Viewing Journal: 2/23/2011

97) ROBOCOP
(1987 dir. Paul Verhoeven) 5th Viewing: February 23 2011

96) FISH TANK
(2010 dir. Andrea Arnold) 2nd Viewing: February 23 2011

A troubling, heartbreaking, and bittersweet depiction of an East London youth's disaffected girlhood. I'm surprised (and impressed) by how visually striking Andrea Arnold frames such thematically bleak kitchen sink realism. She's like some mad sensualist poet. The expert photography makes the film all the more haunting. 

Katie Jarvis' impressive naturalistic performance as Mia is still one the great breakout roles of last year.