This is basically a Dorothy yellow brick road kind of story. Also, something to do with the new replaces the old, the circle of life thing. Kirsten Dunst is a stunning beauty no matter what. I think the production makes her credible as a war time photo journalist, Lee. I am not sure what Joel and the fat old guy Sammy do exactly. Joel is a dedicated driver. The old fat limping dude Sammy turns out to be a life safer. The young photo enthusiast Jessie comes out of no where and decides to tag along. She is somewhat like the Aliens little girl Newt and Lee is going to be protective of her over time and in the end dies for her. Jessie is part of the "film is not dead" crowd or some shit and shoots with his dad's Nikon FE2. I still own my first ever Nikon FE and 50mm f/1.4.
Me being another dude with a camera I can relate to some of the mental-scape of a photographer but of course I am no where near any war zones. No picture is worth dying for. Two things I can relate to to a degree. Lee just losing it. she just doesn't have the drive to take the pictures anymore. The moment she deletes Sammy's motionless picture, she can't compartmentalize herself anymore. She no long has the compulsion to record, . On the other hand, Jessie has grown that compulsion to take pictures. Jessie has no qualms taking the picture of a falling Lee. I think the film does a fine job depicting that compulsion, that compulsion to press the shutter no matter what. As a photographer I think you need to have that compulsion to go out and take pictures. Once you lost that compulsion, you are done. Both female leads have convincingly carried and held their camera. Nobody takes pictures with the rear camera screen.
"The war photographer's most fervent wish is for unemployment" - Robert Capa. Not so much for Jessie.
6/10
