Movie Review Boogaloo Two

 

Harold and Maude, Dir. Hal Ashby (1971)

[another review from m assignments, isw if its put through a plaigerism checker and this website comes up its me i didnt copy myself i am myself xoxo]

“A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life.” Harold and Maude, directed by Hal Ashby, is a black comedy romcom whose underlying energy drives us to grasp life and wants us to live it authentically while also, ironically, having its two main characters being obsessed with death and funerals.

Harold, played by Bud Cort, escapes the reality of his privileged life and overbearing yet cold mother by being obsessed with his own suicide and by going to the funerals of people he doesn’t know. It’s at these funerals that he notices Maude (played by Ruth Gordon) is seemingly following him from one to one. The two start an unconventional romance where the value and art of life is explored.

Although the premise of this film seems morose and depressing I think there is so much joyous indulgence in this film both thematically and visually. Regarding the visual aspects of the film which I find pleasing, the whole thing feels indulgently 70’s while also having disorientating splashes of the morbid, which is titillating for anyone who enjoys black comedies. The visions of Afghan coats and earth toned suits along with the entire score composed by Cat Stevens placed beside graphic performances of death and the fact that Harold’s car is a hearse exemplifies this.

This is a frankly beautiful film in both its spirit and in the way it was made. Taking some of the darker themes into consideration, such as death, suicide and relationships with considerable age gaps, I don’t think this film is suitable for every age or sensibility. None the less I think this film is highly enjoyable in its humour, whimsy and its overall lust for life.

side note babes--- again, class movie, wouldnt review her if she wasnt. i used to know a guy like harold so this movie always makes me nostalgic for past attitudes and relationships like the best movies should.