What follows is an archived version of my fairly recent live twitter commentary on the rather brilliant Skyline. As regular readers may know, I absolutely adored Skyline and consider it one of the great science fiction films of our generation. This commentary was mostly done just for fun and to spark a little discussion. Some parts of the discussion are presented here in the form of tweets from @PuttyKnees, @Fonhom and @Nickrob. For those of you not familiar with twitter, the following comments may seem strangely formatted, but twitter has no real archive function and so this was the product of a wee bit of legwork to collate and assemble into a readable piece. The tweets have been edited for spelling errors, but otherwise left untouched, which leaves some odd grammatical touches behind, but that's just twitter for you.
As far as the actual commentary goes, I don't think it's too bad. I touch on some interesting points within the film, but it doesn't start very strong. A lot of the points I make are only partly expressed, due to twitter's character limit, but for what it's worth, I think the whole thing is pretty good and I'd definitely do it again.
@ProfessorClumsy: I assume these LA flyovers are stock footage.
This opening establishes events from later in the film. When we get here again it makes just as much sense.
I think they just didn't want people to think it was going to be a boring film about Hollywood pricks partying
The "good art" tank top is warning that this is not going to be subtle
Lots of mentions of the "robot fight" presumably a Transformers reference.
The robot fight "sucks, but the director loves it." Bitterness toward vis effects being considered secondary?
It is a very bitter film in general, but joyful in its bitterness
The bright lights represent Hollywood glamour, enticing to all the shallow folk at the party. Jarrod is resistant to it of course
The 2 rooms here are symbolic of the 2 lives now laid out before Jarrod. Hollywood lifestyle room is bathed in the blue light
We later learn that victims of the light do not die, but have their brains used to make identical, familiar monsters
Just like visual effects artists, obviously!
This rooftop scene is here to establish 2 things: these guys are not action men and the visual effects are not on their side.
We are now evoking Independance Day quite heavily, except our heroes are so shit they cannot defeat a door.
"What will they do with them?" "I'm not looking to find out!" You already found out, it's what Hollywood did to you!
Except more symbolic and rapey
This scene is straight out of War of the Worlds. Those Martians were visual effects too. They're all a family
Walt, I guess, got some luxurious retirement package and moved to LA. That's why he and his dog had to die
I like to imagine Walt was a pornographer
A dog pornographer
A porndographer
So here's Cloverfield, killing Terry. Closely followed by the Vagina Squid
The vagina squid absorbs men whole. More of a reverse birth than a sexual act.
They embody Jarrod's fear of fatherhood. Interesting that it is not the birth so much as the conception that plagues his mind
That is the element that drives the setting for the third act. A suggestion that this only happened because Jarrod came to LA
He is such a "good artist" that his creations become real the moment inspiration comes to him.
It can't be a coincidence that these heavily symbolic monsters appear the same night this character is offered 2 different futures
@PuttyKnees: Isn't a little confused about that? The aliens are external to Hollywood - they're sucking the ideas out of it?
@ProfessorClumsy: the aliens represent visual effects artistry, rebelling against Hollywood symbolically.
and also his fear of fatherhood, although he is not rational about either
@PuttyKnees: hmm I read it as Hollywood effects literally sucking the ideas/life out of creative people. I like your reading though
@ProfessorClumsy Hollywood itself is sucking the ideas, the effects are fighting back
but mostly they embody this characters internal struggle
@PuttyKnees aye looking to the end I guess he embraces this idea, but to me he becomes an automaton in the process?
@PeofessorClumsy he tries to take both paths until it is too late. There's no real hope at the end. It is implied he fights eternally.
This is an interesting sequence, the planes are visual effects and this scene presents the closest thing to a triumph in the film
The humans do not win, unless they are also visual effects. Even then the victory is shortlived
"Will there be more planes where they came from?" No, just more visual effects and these ones aren't on your side
I'm reminded of @Nickrob telling people not to go to film school
@Nickrob: it's don't get into the film business, but if you do go to film school.
@ProfessorClumsy: no need to rant in future, just show people Skyline.
The David Zayas character is the most interesting of the supporting cast. It is implied that he did not "choose LA" but instead chose America and just landed here where there was a job for him. He disapproves of the party
And sacrifices himself rather than get abducted. He never sees the light as it is never presented to him.
Elaine is the only character who cannot die, because she's as important to the central idea as the city of LA
Okay, here we go. Jarrod completely demolishes the Vagina Squid with his bare hands. His thoughts on fatherhood are starting to rationalise, but he is almost entirely lost to the Hollywood idea. As embodied by Cloverfield Monster here that Zayas failed to kill in spite of sacrifice. Things are coming to head here.
Okay, here we go. Jarrod completely demolishes the Vagina Squid with his bare hands. His thoughts on fatherhood are starting to rationalise, but he is almost entirely lost to the Hollywood idea. As embodied by Cloverfield Monster here that Zayas failed to kill in spite of sacrifice. Things are coming to head here.
And here comes the best sequence.
The aliens win
Systematic removal of brains and forced abortions form the backbone of the final act.
The aborted fetuses are used to build new alien bodies, then implanted with the sperm-like brains.
@FonHom: #HumanCentipede sounds more straightforward and marginally less pervy. #playingdoctordidntprepareme
@ProfessorClumsy: it's tastefully depicted. This is a PG13 movie
This is how the film industry works, taking away your chance for a normal life then using your brain against you
The idea being that maintaining real artistry and not losing humanity is s constant fight, like the literally endless fight here
#Skyline: a cautionary tale
#Skyline: a fucking great movie
There was talk of a sequel, I wonder where they could possibly go next? Perhaps a more positive story?
#Skyline is a beautifully succinct statement on the film industry and artistry in general that seems richer everytime I rewatch it.
