The Future

FIRST: "The Future" was released in 2011, not 2001 (Prime video has this mislabeled as of today, 12.26.20).SECOND: This is an art film. It is designed to provoke a feeling, challenge concepts, or elicit a mood in the viewer. It does not unfold at a pace comparable to mainstream hollywood films. And the content is not overly-obvious, but often trusts the viewer to observe the subtle and implied.THIRD: The Future has some surprises, but your boundaries of patience may be felt and tested before those scenes happen. It's worth it to stick through the awkward moments and idiosyncrasies as it unfolds.FOURTH: Miranda July is gifted at creating unconventional dramatic tension; sometimes through interpersonal dynamics that we relate to but aren't used to seeing on film, and other times through a look or a way of showing a character out of place through contrast or body posture. Miranda July is also a unique performer who invokes a singular, vulnerable intrigue that may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if it is: it can be refreshing.FIFTH: A common thread in this story seems to be one of relevance in a rapidly changing reality of online identities and social media that has consumed us this past decade. "How do I fit into a world where artists like me get famous on YouTube?" And "How do I record and broadcast my self-made work to the world?"MY BIGGEST TAKE-AWAY: An unexpectedly sober look at the choices we make in life (or not make), the need for self-awareness, and the importance of making a life that feels meaningful and brings us alive. If we ignore these themes, the contortions expressed in our behavior will be born of a desperate plea to escape the inner prisons we've made for ourselves, and we may find ourselves in dissonant circumstances like the characters do.LASTLY: This isn't a film for everyone, at every time. Watch it on a night where you're looking for a change of pace, and have the capacity to welcome a shift in tone.

There is narrative, there is the escape into "art" properly framed, there is the appearance of certainty, of conclusions, of clear cause and effect, and then there is the reality of our own lives and minds. Within our own lives and minds we keep at bay, so to speak, chaos, by establishing routines, by doing work, by creating a new life in a child in whom we invest our "plans", "goals", "learned behaviours" "values" and so on. To what extent is each of us fascistic - wanting to control not just our child, but our world? Is one result of this, gated communities? Is one result of this the fear of the "other"? Is another result of this the strong desire to grasp at answers provided by religions?Miranda July to me seems to understand the chaos within the mind of the educated,middle class, Western individual and she gives realisation to the tug that goes on between resting back on "routine" and giving in to curiosity and reaching out in some of form of improvisation towards some new experience. In this regard there does seem a connection with improvised music.The two protagonists use one of the most haunting and beautiful popular ballads ever penned as an anchor - that song is Where or When by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart and the version they listen to is one recorded by Peggy Lee backed by Benny Goodman a few weeks after Pearl Harbour so iOS especially laden with feeling and power.Writer Ben Lerner wrote about a "poem"...is understand as referring to a failure of language equal to the possibilities it figures." Ms July is using the language of film (poem) and similarly "failing" to accurately, understandably reveal what "happens" in relationships, but gee, she gives her film a very, very good shot especially in giving a sense of the reality of misunderstandings that are commonplace in relationships.I get no sense of self indulgence, of "why not try some LSD?", but a genuine sense of individuals yearning to understand and to learn. Sartre I think it was claimed there was only one real question which was that of suicide. Ms July manages to create a film which intensifies the experience of the ordinary making the moon, a cat's paw stretching, a look, a smoothie, a sentence, resonate with a curious power and intrigue. But she also creates a n interest and warmth in the viewer for her characters. No mean feat.

If one adds up all the car chases, the crashes, the shootings and the fires and explosions, the total number comes up to zero. So this is not an action movie, and that is all right. It turns out Jason and Sophie have been living together for 4 years, and they decided to adopt a cat, who has renal failure, and was only expected to live for another 5 months, and they felt they could commit to that. They go to pick him up, and are told they have to wait 30 days, and if they fail to show up, the cat will be put down. OK, for the story line that might be plausible, but not for how shelters normally work. Anyway, they decide to take the 30 days and become ‘more alert’, and Jason drops his tech support job, and Sophie quits teaching dance. The thing is, there seems to be no chemistry between them, and they seem to live in a rut. But Jason does try something very different. During the movie, there is dialog from the cat, looking back on his very tough life, and looking forward to leaving the cage. As cats cannot tell time he has no idea when his new life will begin but he has hopes. The movie really revolves on how Jason and Sophie spend their time learning new things, and there are glimpses into the future. And it is very slow and for the most part, very dull. The movie seems to aspire to a higher plane of reality. Just how many viewers want to go along? Two stars may be harsh as the movie is well made, just not all that interesting and one really doesn’t care about either Jason or Sophie. Oh, Jason can talk to the moon and also stop time.

This is definately not a film for everyone: no car chases, no explosions, no sex, no CGI...BUT, if you like your films with subtle shades then you'll love this. The plot outline is fairly simple: a young couple decide to become more responsible and "adult" by adopting a cat from a shelter: the cat's given nameis pawpaw as it has an injured paw. The cat is also quite ill and may not survive more than six months, perfect for a couple scared of long term commitment.As the couple try to come to terms with actually caring for something other than themselves things begin to change. In addition, this is interspersed with short montages of pawpaw describing aspects of its lafe, philosophy and hopes, It may sound a bit odd but it works.This film has pathos, dry wit and wonderfully understated performances... good enough form me.

I was worried purchasing this product because it had been used. Saying that, it was in perfect condition and it is one of my favourite movies :) A MUST BUY :)

Ok, I love Miranda July, I loved "Me and You and Everyone We Know", and had been eagerly awaiting her next film.I went to see her in London when she did a "sermon" at the School of Life, and bought a signed copy of "It Chooses You". I really enjoyed the book, which she wrote while she was having trouble writing the film, and in it she talks about how the film came about. The film talks about unconnected characters who fail to find the connections that they do in "Me and You". The bit with Joe was adorable but the whole film made me feel uncomfortable and a bit empty and guilty.Those looking for an introduction to July would be better off with "Me and You". I don't think this was her best work, and I hate leaving bad reviews, but I'm sure her next work will be much better. July is such a wonderfully uniquely creative person and I still eagerly look forward to what she does next.

Als ein Pärchen in den Mittdreißigern beschließt, eine kranke, schwer hilfsbedürftige Katze zu adoptieren, wird ihnen bewusst, das die Zeit vor der Abholung vermutlich das letzte bisschen „Freiheit“ für ihr Leben bedeuten könnte und beschließen, in den letzten 30 Tagen ihr Leben zu überdenken und umzugestalten.Prompt haben beide ihre ungeliebten Jobs gekündigt und neue Ambitionen gefunden, nur um schnell festzustellen, das sich diese in der Realität schwerer ausleben lassen als erahnt.Miranda July, die hier sowohl Hauptdarstellerin als auch Schöpferin des Films ist, gibt diesem Film eine Art „magischen Realismus“, wie man es vielleicht aus solchen Dingen wie „Die fabelhafte Welt der Amelie“ kennt. Die kranke Katze ist die kratzige Erzählstimme, die Frau wird von einem Ihrer T-Shirts verfolgt und ihr Mann kann möglicherweise die Zeit anhalten. Doch diese quirlig-putzig-seltsamen Ideen werden hier mit der brutalen Realität auf Kollisionskurs gebracht. Die Träumereien des Pärches werden schnell als egozentrisch entlarvt, die Last-Minute-Lebensänderungen drohen schon im Ansatz zu scheitern (Die Art wie das angedachte Projekt der Frau durch Verunsicherungen und mangelnder Überwindung bereits im Entstehen scheitert, trifft unangenehm nahe an eigenen Erfahrungen, wo ich sicherlich nicht der einzige sein werde). Und am Ende führt die ganze Idee, wie soll es auch anders sein, nur zu Desastern.Es ist ein erstaunlich depressiver Film, alles in allem, und auch wenn der Film mit seinen frechen Ideen manchmal interessante Sachen zu sagen hat und diese geschickt zu visualisieren weiß, so beißen sie sich doch sehr hart mit der gezeigten Handlung und können für jemanden, der nicht bei jedem bisschen visuellem Subtext gleich jubelnd vom Sitz aufspringt, nerven können.So bleiben bei mir gemischte Gefühle zurück, da ich viele Einfälle sehr genossen habe, aber mich mit dem Gesamtprodukt nicht so ganz glücklich fühle.

this was bought as a gift off somebody else's wish lift. They were very pleased with it and it came within timescale