Shit Year

"Shit Year," a 2010 film directed by Cam Archer, is an emotional and extraordinarily intimate portrayal of an artist's crisis and struggle with identity and relevance, embodied by the superb performance of Ellen Barkin. The film artfully examines the questions of aging, fame, love, and the true cost of an artistic life.

The movie features Ellen Barkin as Colleen West, a successful yet disillusioned Hollywood actress who retires from acting, leaving her life of glamour and fame to reside alone in a secluded, mountainous cabin. Barkin's raw, nuanced, and incredibly detailed performance captivates us as we witness her character's emotional journey from a renowned actress to a woman seeking solitude, attempting to find an essence beyond her professional persona. The film, much like Barkin's portrayal of Colleen, isn't easy to define, blending elements of drama, abstract imagery, and introspective character study.

Luke Grimes plays Harvey West, Colleen’s young and alluring lover. He brings a youthful energy that beautifully juxtaposes and complements Barkin's bitter and detached Colleen. Harvey, an amateur actor, represents an essential component of Colleen's struggle: the tension between professional dedication and personal need. His interactions with Colleen expose some hidden, yet fundamental, aspects of her personality, laying bare her vulnerability as she battles her own sense of self-worth and relevance.

Adding another layer to this fascinating prismatic view of an artist's personal journey is Bob Einstein, who beautifully supports the narrative with his role. His character interacts tangentially with Colleen's story, supplying critical backbone support for a complex narrative, without stealing the thunder from its protagonist or her younger lover.

"Shit Year" is brimming with a rich, poetic cinematography that seems to function as an extension of Colleen's psyche. Archer's use of black-and-white visual narrative conveys a surreal, dreamlike quality that further enhances the introspective aspect of the film. The film uses a non-linear narrative style, which leaves viewers patiently piecing together a holistic reading of Colleen's psyche.

In this film, Archer doesn’t shy away from portraying an unglamorous side of an actress's life. Here, fame and success have a price, and the film portrays Colleen’s raw and unfiltered emotions which are wrung out through her isolation and introspection. Colleen’s loneliness is palpable, which Barkin exposes with a depth that only a seasoned actress could bring. Her journey is documented through emotional discourses with herself, poignant interactions with Harvey, and vivid dreams, which Archer compiles into a riveting film.

"Shit Year" is unique in its exploration of the human condition, delving deeply into a renowned actress’s life and her struggle to navigate her post-professional life. The film is a raw revelation of the complex emotions that accompany success, aging, and the sacrifices made for art. Archer uses abstract imagery and evocative cinematography to reflect the character’s emotions, leaving the viewer to interpret the life of Colleen, seen through her eyes.

The title, "Shit Year," although stark and abrasive, captures the essence of Colleen's year of self-imposed solitude and introspection. Albert’s narrative captures the complexity of personal journeys, suggesting that the process of self-understanding and reconciliation with the past can be both riveting and devastating.

The film's brilliance lies in its ability to swirl together narrative threads to create an intimate portrayal of an individual in 75 minutes that typically would have demanded a book of several hundred pages. Barkin’s spectacular performance is the soul of "Shit Year," making this film an absolute must-see for any cinephile.

Archer's direction in "Shit Year" places the viewer in a unique position, allowing them to see and feel the movie through both the protagonist's perspective and a larger, omniscient vantage point. This results in a strange synergy of empathy and objectivity, making this film an experience like no other. It’s a raw, unflinching, and introspective tale of self-discovery and personal transitioning, making "Shit Year" a masterstroke movie that’s profound and deeply affecting.