My "Ballad of a Pilgrim" Review

[Casablanca]

Throughout the course of time, xplayadam has produced some of the most fascinating, off-the-wall, and meticulously, perversely uncanny films released on the site. That being said, he has also produced one or two films of a lesser key, the same good song played on the wrong chord. However, despite this, there is a headstrong, near lustful, attachment I have to his work; I want to see him produce a piece of high quality. I think it is because, in my mind, xplay is, perhaps, the largest auteur of the site, as in each of his films contain common threadbare, and manage to turn tradition into excitement. One can just expect to see a frame of any one of his films, any given title, and have it possible to analytically dissect, in regard to another frame of a different title. His films feel that linked, that associated; to a point where I am tempted to say that the worst xplay films still has enough imagination and rebelliousness than most films on the site. Note, I do not say “greater then”, as that would be a lie; I state only the truth in that this director is the cinematic-barrier-breaker, convention toppler that I like to see. And so, in that, is this film the movie I wanted, the one I craved for? No, it is not. It is just another effort, part of his series of recent attempts to achieve anarchic nirvana. Baby steps can get you a long ways, though.

The film is not so much an adventure, as it is a surreal fantastical dream. It is also not so much that as a study on willpower. Though, going on, it is not so much that as an unusual tale of greed. Need I continue further? This is a film of implacable territory that cannot be categorized. It is a short film that plays out like a sadomasochistic Buddhist monk’s fable of woe and change in mind. It’s message may seem cryptic, that is, if you can sift through the rubble to find out what exactly it is saying.

As for the writing, xplay sure can make a campy pile of cheesecake seem profound. In fact, he can do it so well, that sometimes, I honestly think he is diving into the territory I so want him to. I like how this film programs, I really do. I think it has a good head on its shoulders, a smart brain, and nerves wrought by recklessness and a devout wish for cinematic freedom, away from the bonds and restraints of the typical form. If only xplay can channel these desires into a project of meaning, a film that has something is desperately wants to say, something that pertains to everybody and nobody. If only he can create the feature length, inner working, spiritually defiant, and radically sacrilegious films I plea for.

In comparison to his most notable short, “Little Piece of Heaven”, the result is simple. The former has a better execution, though this one has better ideas. I was more fulfilled by this one, but at the same time, I was able to point out more flaws. A jumble of ideas and passions by the director, never hollow, though sometimes displayed in a frustration. It feels as though xplay is lashing out his ideas instead of subtly laying them on. It is zealous of him, do not get me wrong; but that just takes a great thinker, it takes a great storyteller to fixate those concepts into a truly original and compelling work of art.

Overall, this film is one that I am not belated to see, though I am also very pleased. It shows xplay knows what he is doing, and that is all that counts. Of course, I feel like I am slowly walking up the ladder with him, but because of his auteur quality, I am more then happy to see him through, especially if the payoff is as high-end as I just think it might be. I am very excited to see what he turns out next, and next, and next, until he reaches the pinnacle of his powers, unnerviously throwing them out at us with confidence. “Unnerviously” –that is not a real word, I just used it improperly, as improper as xplay’s style and flair. It is something I know would make him proud, a insolence to conventional thought.

[Xplayadam]

God Casa, you know how to please someone. It's easily the best review I've ever recieved, and in a way you've impacted me with this review. As someone whose probably jammed through all of flicks I've done it's cool to see someone almost break down how they believe I write and you hit the nail on the head, I generally do go into a flick with alot of concepts for it (images, sequences, scenes) but without ever realing have a clear idea how to string those together.

To be honest, only a few times have I thought the plot all the way through (hence a good amount of nonsense), just because it is more enjoyable that way. It keeps my writing mind always at work. When writing "Pilgrim", I basically listened to an ungodly amount of Bob Dylan and tried recreating this tall-tale/folk feel to it. Hence the 500 kids part, I imagine The Pilgrim had like 15 kids or something and every time someone told the story the amount of kids grew.

You're an astounding writer Casa and most of the time your reviews up being better then the flicks you're reviewing. Such an honor.

[Casablanca]

Wow are very welcome, and I, in turn, cannot thank you more.

It is a pleasure to read consistently absorbing material from a uniquely and originally fascinating writer with much talent, and I know that if you keep releasing films here, you will have more then a fair share of great films to match "The Raven", and surpass it.

Thanks again, and, as I said about a month or two ago, we will be on chat at the same time one of these days!