Visually stunning. Engaging. Fascinating. Compelling. These are the words I would use to describe Ink, an indie sleeper that's about to take the film world by storm.
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Netflix has been trying to get me to watch Ink for quite a while. I've ignored the subtle pushes, opting instead to watch some forgettable films and old favorites.
"Come on, we think you'll give Ink four stars if you just watch it," Netflix has been saying. "Just give it a chance. What have you got to lose?"
For most of the day I thought about Ink. I decided to watch it when I got home from work and settled down to watch it a few hours ago, not expecting much. By the time it ended, I was a puddle of tears and already thinking of playing parts of it over to watch it again.
Watching Ink is and isn't like anything you've ever seen. The cinematography is daring. The world is filtered through amber light, then silver light, then green light, then grainy, dark film, then back to a more realistic tone. The screen ratio changes. People flash in and out of existence. The musical score serves as background for the action until it seems the musical score is dictating what you see on the screen. For the most part, it worked. I was engaged. Once I started watching, I couldn't turn back.
The musical scores at times blended perfectly into individual scenes. When it wasn't busy blending, I was struck by how beautiful it was and by how well it tugged at my emotions. I was even more impressed when I realized the score was written by director Jamin Winans.
Ink probably isn't for everyone. In some ways, it was like watching a fantasy based video game. As steeped in the gaming culture as I am, this wasn't a problem for me. In fact, I would be floored if it was turned into a game. I would buy it.
I also thought, for the most part, the acting was great. When it wasn't great, the actors' earnestness towards the film saved it. Jeremy Make and Jennifer Batter stand out the most. Jeremy is a pathfinder, a blind man who must listen to the rhythms of the world around him to find a way to save a little girl. And, Jennifer is Allel, a storyteller warrior tasked to help him save the girl and her father; she also passes on good dreams to ordinary people asleep in the real world.
The story takes place in two realms, that of the ordinary world and a second world which is the home of storytellers and incubi, creatures engaged in a battle between good and evil. The world of the storytellers is idyllic, bright, and full of laughter, while that of the incubi is bleak, gritty, and inhumane. Storytellers bring good dreams; incubi bring nightmares.
A young girl is stolen from her home in the middle of the night by Ink, a creature lost in his own suffering. He wants to become an incubus- he feels once he is counted in their ranks he will be transformed into a beautiful being lost in bliss. The girl is to be his sacrifice.
It is up to the storytellers, guided by Jacob the pathfinder. to save her. In order to do so, they need to break her father, played by Chris Kelly, out of the habits that have led him to become estranged from her. Quinn Hunchar is adorable as Emma, the young girl at the center of the tale, and is perfect as she plays, cowers, and eventually finds a store of courage.
At an hour and forty-five minutes, I didn't feel the movie was too long. At times it was a bit muddled. There is a lot going on. There are fight scenes and dream sequences and a large cast to wrangle. But, the few times I felt my interest waning, something drew my attention back in quick order.
I do with the multicultural cast was used more effectively. All of the main characters, even Ink to some degree, were pretty white people with problems. I usually expect indie movies to do a better job of having an inclusive cast. At the same time, the movie wasn't my vision, and it worked, so I'm not going to raise my voice in complain too loudly. There's hope Jamin's next tale will include a more diverse cast. He does get brownie points for including a number of empowered female characters into the story.
Even if Ink wasn't an indie, low budget film, it would still be a visual masterpiece. And, I can without a doubt say it was the best movie I've seen all year. In fact, it's the best movie I've seen in quite a few years, and it is a film I would consider an instant classic. Jamin Winans is also well on his way to becoming one of my favorite directors. He wrote, directed, and scored the movie. He's at the Joss Whedon level, and this is his first feature. When I ranked Ink in Netflix, I had to give it five stars. I don't think I've liked a movie this much since Pan's Labyrinth.
