When in DOUBT, use the dutch angle shot - wokka wokka wokka

Well, I saw Doubt. And it was theatrical (understandable - it is based on a Tony winning Broadway play) and a bit hammy. The concept is interesting, but those 'moral ambiguity' films always annoy me somewhat. Only a masterful director can handle such subject matter. I told my brother when watching it, "Only certain directors should be allowed to use a dutch angle shot, just as only certain directors should be allowed to shoot in slo-motion!" (I have to confess here that I didn't know this camera angle was even called a dutch angle until he enlightened me - why didn't I pay more attention in that cinema class?? I think I was just too distracted by Marcello Mastroianni's hair). BTW - this is a dutch angle shot (from a great film, albeit):

I'm gonna make a short film wherein two characters are arguing over a jar of peanut butter. Let's say those characters names are floresita and El Steven (Note: I am copying this almost word for word from Shanley's script adaptation)

ALTERNATING SINGLE SHOTS - DUTCH ANGLE SHOT FROM BELOW

FLORESITA
Is it true?

EL STEVEN (smoking cigarette)
What?

FLORESITA
You know what I'm asking.

EL STEVEN
No.

FLORESITA
Did you take the peanut butter out of my kitchen?

EL STEVEN
It was organic; it was going to go bad!

FLORESITA
Why didn't you just tell me???

EL STEVEN
I was just trying to spare you further embarrassment.

Oh, the suspense - dun dun dun!!!
Okay, moving on ...
The story is essentially this ponderous mediation on the 'nature of doubt.' It was a tight stage play that is diminished by the addition of cheesy devices like lightbulbs burning out (which interrupted the building tension and the rhythm of the whole piece - WTF did he do that??), harsh wind blowing in the night (oooooooo), killer kitty cats, and, yes, unnecessary dutch angle shots. The glorious Meryl Streep delivers a spastic performance that proves (just as Natalie Portman did in the newer, blander Star Wars films) that even the finest of actresses is only as good as her director. I like John Patrick Shanley, and I loved his Joe Versus the Volcano (one of my favorites); but, again, I think here he should have handed this piece to someone with more expertise.

Speaking of 'moral ambiguity' films. The Reader. Oh, The Reader. I cried three times, I was moved by David Cross' performance. But the film struck me as manipulative and patently blatant. The movie was a great coming of age story, but it was a piss-poor holocaust film. I kind of agree with Ron Rosenbaum's article about it:

Though I still hate you for that Billy Joel diatribe, Mr. Rosenbaum. Gar.

I'm closing with a random clip of Lily Allen's new single. Because it's catchy, and it makes me happy :))