- Easily the best film to date from Arnold– and another boost for the A24 brand
- social commentary- “I’m the spiderman of the dumpster”- much of film is through the eyes of these troubled impoverished youth (sort of a 21st century Dead End kids)– selling magazines in areas with large houses, rich subdivisions (until the end when we see a lower income neighborhood)
- Part gorgeous travelogue and part tender love story
- wonderful use of music while riding in the van- modern day Easy Rider in many ways – non-professional actors used throughout including lead role Sasha Lane

wonderful use of music while riding in the van- modern day Easy Rider in many ways – non-professional actors used throughout including lead role Sasha Lane
- music like “We Found Love” (in a hopeless place– here the young lovers meet in a KMart)- from Rihanna, Carnage with “I Like Tuh” (as the van bounces)- and the title song from Lady Antebellum give the film a hypnotic rhythm. The title song features a cast sing-a-long of sorts that delivers a powerful scene. Arnold is almost saying “all of these kids have a story to tell”
- Epic in scope (163 minutes) and stylistic ambition– cinema verite handheld– heavy closeups, fuzzy focus throttling, reoccurring use of sun spots

Epic in scope (163 minutes) and stylistic ambition– cinema verite handheld– heavy closeups, fuzzy focus throttling, reoccurring use of sun spots
- just not a story we see often– kids form lower income in the southeast– complete with Keough’s confederate flag (showing us she’s the villain here) bikini. The American flag is used several times throughout as well– Lane says “I feel like I’m f*cking America”–

this as of 2020 — this is the best work to date for Shia LeBeouf and Riley Keough (though her work in The Lodge is close)– Keough’s confederate flag (showing us she’s the villain here) bikini
- the road trip that goes nowhere but has much to say– in at least three separate scenes Lane’s character frees a trapped bee, bug, or turtle (finale)
- One scene I would definitely remove is the “social commentary is too on the nose” scene with the little kid reciting lyrics of Dead Kennedys song “I kill children” towards the end of the film—it hurts the film
- Some critics were down on the over the top social commentary and statement on poverty (a la Korine’s film– the stunning 2012 Spring Breakers film– also from A24- but Arnold has some real sincerity here and it’s an actual real love story)– there are different goals between Arnold and Korine-American Honey is quite moving
- Strong resume builders for Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keough
- Highly Recommend / Must See border
Are we going to get a 2020 page soon?
Have you had a chance to see any 2021 film?
I saw a 2021 film that I feel will just about make your archives. It has a few very strong points and a few not-so-good moments. Overall the movie is good. The film’s name is Nail Polish. It’s an Indian movie.
@Azman- I’ll be months still before a 2020 page– or February/March at the earliest. There are like 20-25 films from the criticstop10 list of 50 from 2020 I have yet to see. This year has been such a mess I may just wait until I get to it as I update the yearly archives (I’m on 1954 right now- doing like 2 a week). I have 11 films from 2020 in the archives right now so a top is pretty pointless.
Yes last year (2020) was rather unfortunate. I don’t see 2021 being much better?
I’m really sad. Everything around me is closed and I’m sure you must be frustrated too that cinemas (and everything else) is closed. It must also be rather frustrating for you not to have a proper list of films for this year.
@Azman– yes– certainly 2020 was a terrible year in general (2021 isn’t off to much of a start either) and that trickled down to cinema/movies/film… I have hopes that we’ll get to 20-30 or more archiveable films for 2020 and I hope 2021 gets a little closer back to normal. I shared this on another page a few days ago but this article got me very excited the near future https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/7230-the-most-anticipated-films-of-2021
Wow. Amazing! So much incredible stuff in that article. Of course after last year who can be sure what will happen but I’m keeping my faith in 2021 for now.
@Malith thank you for the cleanup help on the page
Arnold’s film Fish Tank is now in the TSPDT Top 1000. What are your thoughts on that?
@Zane- have it mentioned here on the overrated section http://thecinemaarchives.com/2022/01/06/2009/
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