[Locke]

So I just watched this incredible movie called The Dirties. It presents itself as a found footage movie, only to then not reference the camera operators as people at all. And some scenes, despite being filmed in the same found footage way as the others, aren't apparently supposed to be part of the film any more, they are "real" life. The camera operators non existence is especially weird in some of the more brutal scenes where you're left questioning why someone would just stand there and film, and not help. It's equally weird of the bullies themselves, who seem quite happy to do their whole bully routine, on camera.

The main theme of the film is the concept of reality, and when reality stops being well...reality. Matt spends so much time filming the world or watching the filmed world that he is ultimately disconnected from reality. A form of chosen disconnection I assume, as I did similar things to escape, but it's more terrifying because he doesn't even seem aware of it himself. Then maybe the whole thing is meant to be just a film, we're supposed to accept that it really is all staged. We aren't supposed to believe Matt is a real person, who is doing real things, like in a narrative film, we're supposed to be aware of the artificial nature of it all and keep that constantly in mind. That is why breaking the fourth wall is rare and never by the people who should do it the most. But it's pretty mind blowing, and very frustrating, to try and pick where the lines of reality are and aren't drawn, and what devices are of deliberate intention and what aren't. But then maybe that is the point.

There are other themes as well, like that of friendship. Matt only ever dreams up the idea of a school shooting narrative to help his one and only friend, but Matt becomes so obsessed with the idea he pushes that friend away. The world of film is like a prison to Matt, keeping him constantly isolated.

This all leads to the most intense final ten or so minutes of a film I've ever seen, I was so tense and nervous that I actually felt physically sick. I don't think a movie has ever done that to me before.

It's all amateur actors to carry the film, but they put in great performances hitting the right drama and comedy notes. It probably helps that just all round it's a great script, it's well paced, the genres and tones balance well and hits a personal and emotional resonance. For an amateur effort especially, the quality of this film is just astounding.

If the movies intentions weren't so muddled (intentional or not) this'd easily be the best film of the year for me. As it stands, the film is fantastic on its own, astounding as an amateur effort and it's amazing that a couple of Canadian kids and a camera can make something deeper and more profound, than something Sundance have been jacking off over.