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This is what noted film critic Ray Carney has to say of The Puffy Chair

posted 16 years ago by heartistmurali
15 replies | jump to latest

Where does the problem lie? Why are the the films that get the most attention the stupidest, most banal, most cliched ones? Why does America not appreciate it true cinematic artists? Is the problem the greed of distributors? Is it the stupidity of reviewers? Is it the timidity of viewers who only go to movies they have heard about, or ones that have movie stars in them, or ones that have a million dollar advertising budget? Or is it some combination of all of these factors?

A few days ago a movie called The Puffy Chair came in the mail. It was produced by Mark Duplass, directed by his brother Jay Duplass, written by the two of them, and stars three complete unknowns (at least to me): Mark Duplass (who also wears hats as the producer and co-writer), Kathryn Aselton, and Rhett Wilkins. It is, quite simply, one of the best American films of the past ten years.No ifs, ands, or buts. I am shocked not only that I had hadn't heard of the movie prior to this, but that from everything I've been able to find out, the two brothers who made it still can't get a distributor to pick it up.

The Puffy Chair is the movie Sideways was supposed to be. A love story about two good friends (in this case they are not best friends but brothers) with opposite personalities on a road trip, during which the wilder one meets a woman, and the shyer, tamer one reflects on his current relationship with his longtime girlfriend. I won't say more than that about the plot out of fear of giving away too much, except to say that where Sideways (no matter what the critics told us) ultimately presented a false, sentimental, simplified Hollywood view of life and romance, The Puffy Chair gives us the real McCoy, the real thing, the way life and love and romance really, truly are. Where Sideways was easy and obvious and simple, The Puffy Chair is stunningly delicate and complex. Where Sideways created easy problems so it could offer easy solutions to them, The Puffy Chair, gives us life and love as hard to figure out, and as unamenable to easy solutions, as real life does.

But there is really no need to compare The Puffy Chair to anything else. Suffice it to say that the Duplass brothers present a beautifully moving and complex love story. Every aspect of the film is impressive, but its greatest strength is its superb acting. It took my breath away.

Kathryn Aselton, Mark Duplass, and Rhett Wilkins are stunning. Emotions cascade across Duplass's and Aselton's faces almost too rapidly to keep up with. Just as in real life, where real things are at stake, emotions run high and arguments can dissolve into jokes and jokes can suddenly escalate into thermonuclear arguments.

I have no idea who Kathryn Aselton is, what her dramatic training is, or what she has done in film or on the stage in the past, but she is simply astonishing -- so subtle, so true, so convincing I couldn't believe my eyes at moments. I couldn't believe she was acting. It seemed like she was actually living the film, actually feeling the things her character feels.

What is wrong with the world of film that a film as beautiful as this one would have to fight for distribution? Why haven't I heard of it before? Why haven't you? Why hasn't the world? I understand that The Puffy Chair is making the rounds of various film festivals right now. All I can say is: If you have a chance to see it, go and celebrate your discovery of an amazing new director, two terrific writers, and three wonderful actors. As great art always does, they will ask you questions you need to ask yourself, give you a few tentative, provisional answers along the way, and maybe even help you to understand your life a little more.

Ray Carney
www.Cassavetes.com
Prof. of Film and American Studies
(Link: http://www.thepuffychairmovie.com/review-carney.htm )
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I think the above note will shut the mouths of some of the dumbest a**holes who posted here. And anyone who doesn't know Ray Carney can browse the net for his credentials..................

[–] xofkaos 16 years ago

While I did greatly enjoy the film, I don't know if a rave review from Ray Carney is such a positive thing. I did notice his name in the credits though as a special thanks, I am unclear what the special thanks is for. Perhaps it is just because of his rave review? Who knows, but I always feel that anything written by Carney is highly suspect.

[–] heartistmurali 16 years ago

why should what Ray Carney writes be suspicious? I am just curious because i read he is a highly acclaimed film critic....

[–] plumcot 16 years ago

Ray Carney holds a very narrow world view and believes all films must conform to it. While he is an expert on hyper-realistic cinema, and is a leading scholar on the work of John Cassavetes, he believes that any movie, or piece of art, that doesn't try to exactly replicate true life experiences are bad. So that means he does not respect stylization of any kind, even if it's implicit to the genre (sci-fi, fantasy, most horror). He certainly serves a purpose but to regard his opinion on film as a definitive one is dangerous at best. (This holds true for most critics but especially ones who throw out entire genres of film as inferior).

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

Yeah, that's way too narrow a view. I love a really well-done naturalistic film, but I also love a well-done big-budget sci-fi film. Really, there is merit in any genre I can think of if it is executed well.

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My top 250: http://www.flickchart.com/Charts.aspx?user=SlackerInc&perpage=250

[–] PVarjak 14 years ago

I wouldn't normally be suspicious; but it is interesting that he's thanked in the credits. That certainly calls into question the veracity, bias, and independence of this review.

[–] countrysidereader 16 years ago

Wow, what a review. For this movie. OK, whatever. Everyone has a right to their opinion. Hey, I have to eat too, and it is a political campaign season, so, whatever man. I get it. Strike that strike for journalistic integrity! Just kidding.

[–] prodigylover 16 years ago

Carney is as dangerous (i.e. vital and spot-on) as any critic out there. He isn't perfect -- out of frustration, he spends an inordinate amount of time trashing other filmmakers (he has almost as much venom for Tarantino as he does for the Coens...huh?) -- but he's one of the very few critics willing to stand up for brave, low-budget, artistically honest films. And no, Juno/Little Miss Sunshine/American Beauty are none of those things.

I find nothing wrong with the Coens...but it's sad that their films are considered "out there" and the pinnacle of art in Hollywood/Indiewood. There are other types of good movies worth watching if people would give them a chance. The Puffy Chair only played at festivals like Sundance after Carney did some lobbying for them. The practice of "open submissions" at major festivals are essentially *beep*.

[–] salmo365 16 years ago

His name is in the Credits?????????????

So the review is of a film he was involved in????

Well that explains the hyperbole.

[–] prodigylover 16 years ago

No, they made it first. Then Carney saw, liked it, and helped get it some attention afterward. Which is why his name appears in the "official" DVD version credits.

[–] PVarjak 14 years ago

Unlike a lot of others on this board, I think there was a lot of merit in this film; but to call it one of the best American films in the last 10 years is really pushing it.

I know this was a low-budget film; but some of the shots and audio were VERY poor.

And I REALLY think they got some bad advice about the editing of the film. Having had the benefit of watching the deleted scenes; I think they'd have been better served to have used their first opening scene (they were told not to by some 'filmaker' friends). I also think that it would have made Aselton's (Emily) character much more understandable (and a bit more sympathetic) if they'd included her short conversation scene with her female roommate. Including the 'weetz' scene might also have gone a long way toward showing everyone what an a$$ Josh really was.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 9 years ago

Can you describe those scenes in more detail? I'm intrigued.

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My top 250: http://www.flickchart.com/Charts.aspx?user=SlackerInc&perpage=250

[–] PVarjak 9 years ago

Sorry, I wrote that comment 5 years ago. I'd say go get the DVD (many state library systems offer DVD loans). With the benefit of having seen some of their other work, I'd be a bit less harsh; but it sounds like I mostly objected to the editing of the film and probably couldn't understand all of the dialogue (no subtitles/captions on DVD?).

I have noted in some instances where watching the deleted scenes significantly alters and/or improves the film, especially with understanding plot points and character motivations. I can remember one instance off the top of my head, which was 'The Reader,' where the deleted scenes made some aspects of the film much more understandable.

[–] ThereWillBeBeer 14 years ago

I enjoyed the movie but this guy is just a little over the top

[–] SeattleExigencia 13 years ago

I'm actually surprised that Ray Carney likes it - let alone loves it - considering that the narrative is pretty conventional.

That's not a gripe on my part, just an observation. I quite enjoyed the movie myself, though I certainly wouldn't put it in the category best american film in the last 10 years.

[–] doggie_rodriguez 8 years ago

I think the above note will shut the mouths of some of the dumbest a**holes who posted here. And anyone who doesn't know Ray Carney can browse the net for his credentials..................

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Some guy I've never heard of loves a movie I couldn't even watch all the way through and that's supposed to shut my mouth?

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the dumbest a**holes who posted here

I love when people post stuff like this failing to see the irony that this is what a dumb a-hole would say.