Muckraker Posts: 232 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 | So I went to the midnight release of this, deciding to see it instead of "Fourth Kind". Now I went in expecting this to be rather terrible, despite the fact that it was written and directed by Richard Kelly, best known for his cult hit "Donnie darko". Well I'm proud to say that not only was this movie not terrible, it was actually pretty damn good, much better then I or most others would believe it to be.
First off, I've seen alot of rumors about how this is basically just a remake of the Twilight zone episode "button, button" and to an extent they're right. The movie basically retells the entire button, button story as it's first act with the rest of the movie taking place after the actual pressing of the button. It's during this new section that the movie really begins to display the unique aesthetic that Kelly is known for. I won't reveal anything about the story, but suffice to say that it's complex, strange and requires a second watch to really understand. Thats not to say that there are no "fridge Logic" moments, strange inconsistencies that work while the story is flowing but don't seem to have a purpose once you review the story as a whole.
Where this movie shines however is in the feeling it creates for it's audience. Despite a few cliches with it's set pieces the movie does a very good job of trapping us in the same nightmarish suburban dreamworld that seems to swallow up the protagonists. It's a strange sort of paranoid and disconnected feeling, as though the very world itself is very passive aggressively against you. Another thing that is used to great effect in several instances is the idea of the Uncanny; things which are both familiar and alien, causing a conflict in our perceptions and making us feel very uneasy. The very world and all who inhabit it seem to be nothing more then an elaborate stage production with even the antagonist claiming to be nothing but a puppet. We're confronted with legions of emotionless, dead eyed humans, marching and moving in lock step toward some unknown purpose.
The acting was good overall, with the real stand out performance having to be that of Frank Langella as Arlington Steward, the badly burnt main antagonist/ guide of the protagonist couple. He makes great use of his deep and authoritative tone, appearing to all as a man beyond any sort of reproach, an almost god like figure who represents one of the few people who are not simply hollow shells. Both the main characters are well acted, though there is the occasional line that seems a little too complex or highbrow to come up in normal conversation. The "employees" are quite spooky in their empty stares and obviously controlled behavior.
In the end, I can't really recommend the movie based simply on the merit of it's story. The story does go a little snooker loopy in the end, but it's forgivable and they don' t completely abandon their subtle nature. But the real reason to see this movie is simply the atmosphere and the feeling it creates. Simply put, it's much like Donnie darko, in that it makes not a whole lot of sense when examined critically, but the tone, characters and presentation are such that it pulls you in and keeps you interested. If you liked Donnie darko, then chances are you'll like this as well.
8/10 |
Muckraker Posts: 308 Joined: 30 Jun 2009 | well damn, your review may have just made me do a 180. Kinda interested now with this review and i am a huge fan of Donnie Darko(i did not know it was the same writer/director). well done |
Press Junketeer Posts: 446 Joined: 10 Jul 2009 | I like Richard Kelly's stuff (Southland Tales was interesting, too!)
I'll check this out. Though the cast is odd.. Then again this guy always picks odd casts, and i love them. They're the kind of casts i would pick if i were making a movie... |
Muckraker Posts: 232 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 | I think the best way to describe this is something like the paranoia of the "astronauts wife" mixed with the sort of dreamlike strangeness of Donnie darko. Its one of those strange movies that keeps you interested even if you know the story is going to go weird on you in the end. At least to me it is. I would definitely recommend it, obviously, but it's definitely strange and spans a wide variety of subjects from altruism to life after death.
Also, keep an eye out near the end, as one of the illustrations from Donnie Darko's "philosophy of time travel" appears. |
So I went to the midnight release of this, deciding to see it instead of "Fourth Kind". Now I went in expecting this to be rather terrible, despite the fact that it was written and directed by Richard Kelly, best known for his cult hit "Donnie darko". Well I'm proud to say that not only was this movie not terrible, it was actually pretty damn good, much better then I or most others would believe it to be.
First off, I've seen alot of rumors about how this is basically just a remake of the Twilight zone episode "button, button" and to an extent they're right. The movie basically retells the entire button, button story as it's first act with the rest of the movie taking place after the actual pressing of the button. It's during this new section that the movie really begins to display the unique aesthetic that Kelly is known for. I won't reveal anything about the story, but suffice to say that it's complex, strange and requires a second watch to really understand. Thats not to say that there are no "fridge Logic" moments, strange inconsistencies that work while the story is flowing but don't seem to have a purpose once you review the story as a whole.
Where this movie shines however is in the feeling it creates for it's audience. Despite a few cliches with it's set pieces the movie does a very good job of trapping us in the same nightmarish suburban dreamworld that seems to swallow up the protagonists. It's a strange sort of paranoid and disconnected feeling, as though the very world itself is very passive aggressively against you. Another thing that is used to great effect in several instances is the idea of the Uncanny; things which are both familiar and alien, causing a conflict in our perceptions and making us feel very uneasy. The very world and all who inhabit it seem to be nothing more then an elaborate stage production with even the antagonist claiming to be nothing but a puppet. We're confronted with legions of emotionless, dead eyed humans, marching and moving in lock step toward some unknown purpose.
The acting was good overall, with the real stand out performance having to be that of Frank Langella as Arlington Steward, the badly burnt main antagonist/ guide of the protagonist couple. He makes great use of his deep and authoritative tone, appearing to all as a man beyond any sort of reproach, an almost god like figure who represents one of the few people who are not simply hollow shells. Both the main characters are well acted, though there is the occasional line that seems a little too complex or highbrow to come up in normal conversation. The "employees" are quite spooky in their empty stares and obviously controlled behavior.
In the end, I can't really recommend the movie based simply on the merit of it's story. The story does go a little snooker loopy in the end, but it's forgivable and they don' t completely abandon their subtle nature. But the real reason to see this movie is simply the atmosphere and the feeling it creates. Simply put, it's much like Donnie darko, in that it makes not a whole lot of sense when examined critically, but the tone, characters and presentation are such that it pulls you in and keeps you interested. If you liked Donnie darko, then chances are you'll like this as well.
8/10