Stranger Than Paradise

I read about this movie. What I presumed was that this was where independent cinema that we see today got its start. And I wasn't wrong for that. This is the father of all independent film. And from that, Clerks was born. Slacker was born before. And so on and so forth.

That said, I found this really boring at times to watch. I can respect a historical film in cinema, but I also have no problem admitting that there were many point where I just drifted away forgetting that I was actually sitting on my couch watching a movie. My senses are just not set up to process independent film the way they should. I get some of it but not all of it yet. I hope some day I will. But for this film, which is regarded as a masterpiece, I just saw a slow moving three act play put on film to maybe possibly tell a story.

And the story is, while slow, a good one. When you really think about it, these guys gamble for a living and live a pretty low life. This girl from Hungary comes over and visits Willie and then meets Edson, a friend of Willie's. Willie is related to this girl but he is asked to babysit. Make sure America doesn't hurt her. So, he reluctantly does but he wants to vacation and tries and tries and tries again. But they never quite get the vacation they want. Acting is very subtle and superb.

This is a low budget great, too.

The ending is great, different and deeply artistic. After all is said and done, you think to yourself that wasn't half bad in fact there's a lot of thought behind it.

7/10



---and that's totally because I believe one should respect the roots of a great movement, independent cinema.