2011 In Film: Two Pictures That Hit The Right Notes
By Ian Buckwalter
Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene and Steve McQueen’s Shame both feature scenes of characters singing standards, using other people’s poetry in ways the authors never might have imagined. Both directors use delicate, minimalist approaches for maximal emotional impact, potentially sidestepping lots of clumsy and too-specific exposition through performance — and subtle twists on someone else’s words.
Fairly interesting and it has my intrigued to watch Martha Marcy May Marlene. Having seen Shame, I definitely agree that the “New York, New York” scene is incredibly powerful.
