Mother (R) Review
"Between a Bear and her Cub"
Director Joon-ho Bong burst onto the American film scene with Korean Horror Adventure The Host (2008), his follow-up proves he is here to stay. A murder mystery rife with psychological weight that would make Albert Hitchcock blush, Mother is another peek into Korean life, told through the tale of a Mother's love of her Mentally unstable Son and the lengths she goes to prove he is innocent of murder.
A thick, murky crime thriller, Bong's film is fantastically tense as the Mother (played spectacularly by Hye-ja Kim) sifts through the evidence and questions witnesses about the case against her adult son who is a bit touched in the head. Mother and Son have always been close, living meager lives with just each other to rely on. As the Mother struggles to survive and acquit her son, she stumbles upon the dark truths of her life. The soft speaking Mother role is played beautifully with most of the portrayal in her eyes, her gestures, her movements. The finale is satisfying and unexpected as the Director's interests in humanity and the spaces it inhabits are clear and present. This as good as any psychological thriller made in the past decade.
8 Maternal Instincts out of 10 (GREAT)
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2009. Show all posts
Resident Evil: Afterlife (2009)
Resident Evil: Afterlife (R) - Review
"Do Not Resuscitate"
The Resident Evil franchise is rather fascinating, what with each iteration completely ejecting the previous films ideas just to make way for the new ones Paul W. S. Anderson has dreamed up. In this one Milla Jovovich has conveniently lost her powers and must now fight the hoard in dilapidated (and flooded?) Los Angeles. She ends up in a prison where she must work with and rescue the people inside to get to the next red herring of an ending that the next movie will simply ignore and write whatever the hell they want to happen. This is, however, one of the slowest and ploddingest of the RE movies and has the fewest tie ins to the video games that spawned it.
2.5 Lilu's out of 10 (AWFUL)
"Do Not Resuscitate"
The Resident Evil franchise is rather fascinating, what with each iteration completely ejecting the previous films ideas just to make way for the new ones Paul W. S. Anderson has dreamed up. In this one Milla Jovovich has conveniently lost her powers and must now fight the hoard in dilapidated (and flooded?) Los Angeles. She ends up in a prison where she must work with and rescue the people inside to get to the next red herring of an ending that the next movie will simply ignore and write whatever the hell they want to happen. This is, however, one of the slowest and ploddingest of the RE movies and has the fewest tie ins to the video games that spawned it.
2.5 Lilu's out of 10 (AWFUL)
Gentlemen Broncos (2009)
Gentlemen Broncos (PG-13)
"Book Worms, VHS Germs"
Jared Hess, what have you wrought? The creator of Napoleon Dynamite's unique cinema vision hasn't fared to well since his breakout. Gentlemen Broncos looks good on paper, diving into the strange and cultish subculture of SciFi Noveldom, VHS home movie films and offbeat families. The sum of its parts is unequal however, the movie often finds itself in unfunny situations with embarrassingly awkward slapstick for comedy. A kid from High School writes a terrible space novel, which is stolen by a famous SciFi Author (played by Flight of the Conchords Jamie Clement) and the plagurization must be avenged. Kooky, bizarre and dull, the best parts are the visualizations of the terrible novel itself, though the Science Fiction and its fans are so lampoonish that it bears almost no resemblance to reality. Stapled on is another High School group that is busy making terrible little films, ala Be Kind Rewind (2008). Neither joke gets enough screen time, its like two ideas for comedy shorts edited together sloppily. Unsatisfying and with the laughs few and far inbetween, Gentlemen is the kind of oddity you nod your head and smile at when your close friend tells you about his next great idea. You don't have the heart to tell him it mostly just sucks.
3 Tin Foil Bikinis out of 10 (BAD)
"Book Worms, VHS Germs"
Jared Hess, what have you wrought? The creator of Napoleon Dynamite's unique cinema vision hasn't fared to well since his breakout. Gentlemen Broncos looks good on paper, diving into the strange and cultish subculture of SciFi Noveldom, VHS home movie films and offbeat families. The sum of its parts is unequal however, the movie often finds itself in unfunny situations with embarrassingly awkward slapstick for comedy. A kid from High School writes a terrible space novel, which is stolen by a famous SciFi Author (played by Flight of the Conchords Jamie Clement) and the plagurization must be avenged. Kooky, bizarre and dull, the best parts are the visualizations of the terrible novel itself, though the Science Fiction and its fans are so lampoonish that it bears almost no resemblance to reality. Stapled on is another High School group that is busy making terrible little films, ala Be Kind Rewind (2008). Neither joke gets enough screen time, its like two ideas for comedy shorts edited together sloppily. Unsatisfying and with the laughs few and far inbetween, Gentlemen is the kind of oddity you nod your head and smile at when your close friend tells you about his next great idea. You don't have the heart to tell him it mostly just sucks.
3 Tin Foil Bikinis out of 10 (BAD)
Away We Go (2009)
Away We Go (R) Review
"Home is where the heart is"
This amazingly funny and touching movie has to be Sam Mendes' (American Beauty) best to date. A beautiful story about an unmarried couple looking for a home to raise their baby, John Krasinski (The Office (US)) and Maya Rudolph (SNL) jet about the country meeting with friends and family (and the drama that comes with them), reaffirming their modern relationship and their wants and dreams for their future. Gorgeously photographed, humorously written and performed with love, this movie is about growing up, growing old and growing a child without losing who you are and who you can be and where you came from while maintaining a level of humor that rarely works in Hollywood. Us grown up folks can have fun too, even in adult life situations.
9.5 Strollers out of 10 (OUTSTANDING)
"Home is where the heart is"
This amazingly funny and touching movie has to be Sam Mendes' (American Beauty) best to date. A beautiful story about an unmarried couple looking for a home to raise their baby, John Krasinski (The Office (US)) and Maya Rudolph (SNL) jet about the country meeting with friends and family (and the drama that comes with them), reaffirming their modern relationship and their wants and dreams for their future. Gorgeously photographed, humorously written and performed with love, this movie is about growing up, growing old and growing a child without losing who you are and who you can be and where you came from while maintaining a level of humor that rarely works in Hollywood. Us grown up folks can have fun too, even in adult life situations.
9.5 Strollers out of 10 (OUTSTANDING)
Red Riding (2009)
Red Riding (NR)
"You're everything a big bad wolf could want"
Set in 1974, 1980 and 1983, these 3 films intertwine to tell the story of Serial Killing and the police corruption that burgeons it in Yorkshire, Northern England. Its 3 movies, over 5 hours long, but worth it. Each movie has it's own style and mood, the first and third being the most gripping. Recommended.
8 Retro Brits out of 10 (GREAT)
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (R)
"Dance Lizard Dance"
For a remake, its one of the better ones, but Herzog pretending it has nothing to do with the original is just silly. Cage can't out-crazy or out-sleaze Harvey Kietel, the Big Easy's got nothing on the Big Apple, but it's still a good movie somehow, filled with surreal moments filled with hallucinogenic lizards.
6 crack hits out of 10 (GOOD)
The Revenant (2009)
The Revenant (R)
"Roommates of the Dead"
Humor/Gore fans rejoice because experienced SFX man Kerry Prior has written and directed the best intelligent bromance horror flick since Shaun of the Dead. Shot in and around Hollywood (on an obviously low budget), the film features great practical and CGI effects and some wildly humorous performances, particularly the friendship between Chris Wylde and David Anders (Alias). Shot and killed in the Middle East war, Bart (Anders) wakes up in his grave, and asks his best friend Joey (Wylde) for help. They find out being undead isn’t like it is in the movies and begin a nightly rampage in search of human blood through the neon midnight streets of Hollyweird. The situations are snappy, the ideas are fresh and smart, and the cast and crew are young and willing to throw it all on the canvas and see what sticks. Unfortunately some of what’s left clinging there isn’t pretty. Racial stereotypes are a played up to an uncomfortable degree sometimes, the female roles are empty and obviously underwritten (however, Jacy King shines and makes the best of her few scenes as the hippy nurse Matty), it suffers from “look how cool we are” just a little too long (it could also have about 5-10 minutes of fat trimmed from its runtime without pain) and quite a few of the green screen effects simply fell off the ugly “SyFy original” movie of the week. The big shoot-out that ends this film in particular has glaringly bad compositing and rush-it-out-the-door decisions that are wince inducing. But these few flaws do not detract from the incredibly entertaining and humor-filled pearl that is The Revenant, especially considering its low-budget indie-film roots, the obvious zeal and camaraderie of the cast, and the quality work of the writer/ director who put it all together piece by dismembered piece.
7 throat massagers out of 10 (GOOD)
"Roommates of the Dead"
Humor/Gore fans rejoice because experienced SFX man Kerry Prior has written and directed the best intelligent bromance horror flick since Shaun of the Dead. Shot in and around Hollywood (on an obviously low budget), the film features great practical and CGI effects and some wildly humorous performances, particularly the friendship between Chris Wylde and David Anders (Alias). Shot and killed in the Middle East war, Bart (Anders) wakes up in his grave, and asks his best friend Joey (Wylde) for help. They find out being undead isn’t like it is in the movies and begin a nightly rampage in search of human blood through the neon midnight streets of Hollyweird. The situations are snappy, the ideas are fresh and smart, and the cast and crew are young and willing to throw it all on the canvas and see what sticks. Unfortunately some of what’s left clinging there isn’t pretty. Racial stereotypes are a played up to an uncomfortable degree sometimes, the female roles are empty and obviously underwritten (however, Jacy King shines and makes the best of her few scenes as the hippy nurse Matty), it suffers from “look how cool we are” just a little too long (it could also have about 5-10 minutes of fat trimmed from its runtime without pain) and quite a few of the green screen effects simply fell off the ugly “SyFy original” movie of the week. The big shoot-out that ends this film in particular has glaringly bad compositing and rush-it-out-the-door decisions that are wince inducing. But these few flaws do not detract from the incredibly entertaining and humor-filled pearl that is The Revenant, especially considering its low-budget indie-film roots, the obvious zeal and camaraderie of the cast, and the quality work of the writer/ director who put it all together piece by dismembered piece.
7 throat massagers out of 10 (GOOD)
44 Inch Chest (2009)
44 Inch Chest (R)
"Stacked"
44 Inch Chest is written by the fellows who brought us the excellent Sexy Beast. The movie is very spartan, very emotionally brutal and very British, their accents and their profanity is incredibly thick. Set more like a stage play, the majority of the movie takes place in a dilapidated London flat where Ray Winstone and his mates (John Hurt being my favorite) confront the man who cuckolded Winstone and destroyed his life.
7 Lying, Witches and Wardrobes out of 10 (GOOD)
"Stacked"
44 Inch Chest is written by the fellows who brought us the excellent Sexy Beast. The movie is very spartan, very emotionally brutal and very British, their accents and their profanity is incredibly thick. Set more like a stage play, the majority of the movie takes place in a dilapidated London flat where Ray Winstone and his mates (John Hurt being my favorite) confront the man who cuckolded Winstone and destroyed his life.
7 Lying, Witches and Wardrobes out of 10 (GOOD)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PG13) - Review
"Go SNIKT Yourself"
"Go SNIKT Yourself"
Fox now attempts to ruin the one huge star of their now
wilting Super Hero platform as Wolverine gets some unwise alone time in this
prequelish revealing of his past, this time only finding the depths of
stupidity in the studio system. Wolvy is
barely able to hold up the film, finding a complete lack of respect for the
books that spawned him and terrible decisions regarding his regressive
past. It must be noted that XMO:W is
loosely based on the Origins comic book, a best seller and lowpoint in the more
modern machismo of the ancient Canadian furball, so it all can’t be blamed on
the filmmakers, but let’s try.
Sabertooth (now with correct attitude if not the correct look) turns out
to be his long lost step brother who has bloodied his life at every
opportunity. After fighting in Vietnam,
the long lived Logan is recruited by Team X, and after being instilled with the
miracle metal Adamantium is forced to fight his former teammates (all second
string characters or actors) to avenge his lost lady love. Who will avenge the legacy of Wolverine being
the cool X-Man, or of fan favorite Wade Wilson (played by Ryan Reynolds who
cannot get a break), who is so spat upon here as to make any return to the
Marvel Universe an unlikely prospect.
The whole movie reeks to high heaven in plot and execution, with zgrade
special effects and paper thin plotting.
It’s a good thing that Wolverine has lost his memory by the time X-Men 1
rolls around, if only the same could be said of his target viewing audience.
2 Bone Claws out of 10 (AWFUL)
Redline (2009)
Redline (R) - Review
"Go Speed Racer!"
A stylish well-designed anime that blows a tire over cliched characters, sexism and trying to be too cool. Moments of exhilarating animation are vastly overshadowed by lame attempts of characterization and plot using played out genre devices; the anti hero JP must race in the universe's most dangerous race, a contest featuring a rogues gallery of aliens, exgirlfriends and sinister forces trying to reach a finish line because it's there.
Overloaded and overhyped, Redline crashes under its own weight way before the checkered flag waves. All that detail and wax buffs and chrome and burning nitro can't outrace the eyerolling script, the writing being stuck in first gear, grinding around at an 8th grade level with no idea where the clutch is.
5 Hand Cramps out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)
"Go Speed Racer!"
A stylish well-designed anime that blows a tire over cliched characters, sexism and trying to be too cool. Moments of exhilarating animation are vastly overshadowed by lame attempts of characterization and plot using played out genre devices; the anti hero JP must race in the universe's most dangerous race, a contest featuring a rogues gallery of aliens, exgirlfriends and sinister forces trying to reach a finish line because it's there.
Overloaded and overhyped, Redline crashes under its own weight way before the checkered flag waves. All that detail and wax buffs and chrome and burning nitro can't outrace the eyerolling script, the writing being stuck in first gear, grinding around at an 8th grade level with no idea where the clutch is.
5 Hand Cramps out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)
Crank: High Voltage (2009)
Crank: High Voltage (R)
"Jason Lives!"
Director duo Neveldine/Taylor's highly unlikely return the crack highlight reel that was Jason Statham and Crank somehow not only was conceived but produced as Chelios returns from the supposed dead sans his heart, stolen by the Chinese Tongs and replaced with a Kawasaki battery powered replacement without a warranty, and now Chelios must find his stolen ticker and keep his fake one electrified and the bad guys bleeding as he retreads most of the plot points and techniques from the first wacked-out drug laced original with a bad case of sequilitis, wherein the same jokes are made but "funnier", same actions taken but "bigger", see in the first Chelios kept his dying heart beating by putting the spurs to his girlfriend on a mailbox in Chinatown, while here he mounts up on the horse race track, no on the dirt of the track where all the spectators can see and his girlfriend can once again become embarrassed, but some of the moving parts are still fun to watch, even as they get a bit grimier, dirtier and less pure, like pure china white cut with baby powder, probably for die hard fans only but the giant Godzilla-like montage near the start of the film almost makes entry worthwhile, but the less experimental nature and extensive use of cheap digital photography make the hangover much more painful, and the high a bit more jagged.
5.5 Giant Jason Statham Masks would Sell! out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)
"Jason Lives!"
Director duo Neveldine/Taylor's highly unlikely return the crack highlight reel that was Jason Statham and Crank somehow not only was conceived but produced as Chelios returns from the supposed dead sans his heart, stolen by the Chinese Tongs and replaced with a Kawasaki battery powered replacement without a warranty, and now Chelios must find his stolen ticker and keep his fake one electrified and the bad guys bleeding as he retreads most of the plot points and techniques from the first wacked-out drug laced original with a bad case of sequilitis, wherein the same jokes are made but "funnier", same actions taken but "bigger", see in the first Chelios kept his dying heart beating by putting the spurs to his girlfriend on a mailbox in Chinatown, while here he mounts up on the horse race track, no on the dirt of the track where all the spectators can see and his girlfriend can once again become embarrassed, but some of the moving parts are still fun to watch, even as they get a bit grimier, dirtier and less pure, like pure china white cut with baby powder, probably for die hard fans only but the giant Godzilla-like montage near the start of the film almost makes entry worthwhile, but the less experimental nature and extensive use of cheap digital photography make the hangover much more painful, and the high a bit more jagged.
5.5 Giant Jason Statham Masks would Sell! out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)
A Single Man (2009)
A Single Man (R) - Review
"Man vs Closet"
A Single Man tells the story of a closeted homosexual Professor who's partner has just past, coming to grips with feelings of despair and suicide, buoyed up by his friends and a new chance at love. Colin Firth (The Kings Speech) solidified himself with American audiences here, a human being twisted up inside, slowly drowning and desperately seeking a life preserver. The camera and visuals twist our views too, the colors and perspectives warped to give us a feeling of the manic urges and confusion welling as memorys and thoughts torture Firth.
A Single Man is about another time and place (1960s Los Angeles), where being Single at 40 made people suspicious of your sexuality. Where a long time partner isn't allowed at his lovers funeral, where gay men had secret places and signs and ways of finding each other. Fascinating film, the terrible grief Firth portrays is alive and writhing, haunting and beautiful.
8 Horn Rimmed Glasses out of 10 (GREAT)
"Man vs Closet"
A Single Man tells the story of a closeted homosexual Professor who's partner has just past, coming to grips with feelings of despair and suicide, buoyed up by his friends and a new chance at love. Colin Firth (The Kings Speech) solidified himself with American audiences here, a human being twisted up inside, slowly drowning and desperately seeking a life preserver. The camera and visuals twist our views too, the colors and perspectives warped to give us a feeling of the manic urges and confusion welling as memorys and thoughts torture Firth.
A Single Man is about another time and place (1960s Los Angeles), where being Single at 40 made people suspicious of your sexuality. Where a long time partner isn't allowed at his lovers funeral, where gay men had secret places and signs and ways of finding each other. Fascinating film, the terrible grief Firth portrays is alive and writhing, haunting and beautiful.
8 Horn Rimmed Glasses out of 10 (GREAT)
Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Drag Me To Hell (PG-13) - Review
"Hell hath no fury like a film fan scorned..."
After the career boost of the Spider-man francise (and the down turn that was Spider-Man 3), director Sam Raimi dives back to his SplatterHouse roots for a stab at campy gory fun from his youth and misses by a mile. The schlocky tale of a perky bank loan agent who, after being overlooked for promotion at work, picks on the wrong overdue account. A hex is put on her, and in true Raimi/Three Stooges style she is persecuted by bad fortune and ill omens until she attempts to pass the buck in eye rolling (and popping) fashion.
This attempts to be Army of Darkness without the humor of Bruce Campbell and without the special effects of KNB and so fails miserably. Unwanted CGI, unneeded slapstick gore, a luke warm PG13 rating, a milktoast boyfriend and a bitchturn by our antagonist and there is nothing to identify with or root for. At the center of its problems is the anemic fun factor and the self-serving amusement that one can feel emanating from behind the camera. It's your mess Raimi, you clean it up.
2.5 Convenient Hags out of 10 (BAD)
"Hell hath no fury like a film fan scorned..."
After the career boost of the Spider-man francise (and the down turn that was Spider-Man 3), director Sam Raimi dives back to his SplatterHouse roots for a stab at campy gory fun from his youth and misses by a mile. The schlocky tale of a perky bank loan agent who, after being overlooked for promotion at work, picks on the wrong overdue account. A hex is put on her, and in true Raimi/Three Stooges style she is persecuted by bad fortune and ill omens until she attempts to pass the buck in eye rolling (and popping) fashion.
This attempts to be Army of Darkness without the humor of Bruce Campbell and without the special effects of KNB and so fails miserably. Unwanted CGI, unneeded slapstick gore, a luke warm PG13 rating, a milktoast boyfriend and a bitchturn by our antagonist and there is nothing to identify with or root for. At the center of its problems is the anemic fun factor and the self-serving amusement that one can feel emanating from behind the camera. It's your mess Raimi, you clean it up.
2.5 Convenient Hags out of 10 (BAD)
Amer (2009)
Amer (NR) - Review
"Threw the Looking Glass"
In the tradition of classical giallo films comes Amer, a french retro throwback to the violent psychological Italian thrillers of the 1970s. A young girl is traumatized and the memory haunts and shapes the rest of her life as she attempts to avoid the jagged edges of her subconscious mind.
Trippy visuals combined with a lack of dialogue and LCD laced music cues create a deliciously heavy mood as our heroine moves from erotic fantasy to estranged reality in the wink of an eye. Don't expect a rational story, don't demand a narrative or plot and just let your mind's eye absorb. This is a film for watching, experience and experiment, to attempt to answer your own questions when the smoking caterpillar offers you the pipe.
7.5 Eyeball Closeups out of 10 (GOOD)
"Threw the Looking Glass"
In the tradition of classical giallo films comes Amer, a french retro throwback to the violent psychological Italian thrillers of the 1970s. A young girl is traumatized and the memory haunts and shapes the rest of her life as she attempts to avoid the jagged edges of her subconscious mind.
Trippy visuals combined with a lack of dialogue and LCD laced music cues create a deliciously heavy mood as our heroine moves from erotic fantasy to estranged reality in the wink of an eye. Don't expect a rational story, don't demand a narrative or plot and just let your mind's eye absorb. This is a film for watching, experience and experiment, to attempt to answer your own questions when the smoking caterpillar offers you the pipe.
7.5 Eyeball Closeups out of 10 (GOOD)
Trash Humpers (2009)
Trash Humpers (NR) - Review
"Yes, they do."
Never has the title of a movie been so accurate. Harmony Korine, strange filmologist extraordinaire, brings us this mockumentary about strange elderly creatures who patrol the night looking for Trash to, yes... hump. Depravity amidst shaky handheld homevideo is the motif and it will go beyond your appetite for bizarre buffet. It is presented and intended to be like a found VHS tape you discovered in the gutter of a thrift store. You gather your friends, pop it in dad's VCR and experience the unknown. Only for the interested and the experienced, Trash Humpers has too few of the expected genuinely odd Korine moments that might lead to a recommendation, the film is made to outtrash Jack Ass (boy does it ever) and is as memorable as a stumbled upon crime scene. Sometimes its ok to look away.
3.5 Rubber Masks out of 10 (BAD)
"Yes, they do."
Never has the title of a movie been so accurate. Harmony Korine, strange filmologist extraordinaire, brings us this mockumentary about strange elderly creatures who patrol the night looking for Trash to, yes... hump. Depravity amidst shaky handheld homevideo is the motif and it will go beyond your appetite for bizarre buffet. It is presented and intended to be like a found VHS tape you discovered in the gutter of a thrift store. You gather your friends, pop it in dad's VCR and experience the unknown. Only for the interested and the experienced, Trash Humpers has too few of the expected genuinely odd Korine moments that might lead to a recommendation, the film is made to outtrash Jack Ass (boy does it ever) and is as memorable as a stumbled upon crime scene. Sometimes its ok to look away.
3.5 Rubber Masks out of 10 (BAD)
The Prestige (2006)
The Prestige (2006) - PG-13 Review
"Pay no attention to that director behind the curtain..."
If there is one director who excels at telegraphing a films intentions, of obfuscating terrible plot holes through expensive visuals, and produce more dubious morality eyerolls per minute and still have the general public lap it up and ask for more then you have to look no further than Christopher Nolan (Memento). This Prestige is literally someone ruining the mystery of magic (both on screen and off) by over explaining every little detail and still expecting the ending to be some sort of surprise (guess what, it isn't). In typical Nolan style the movie looks great, every frame a 1900's fashion magazine. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale try to outdo each other through a number of years as dueling magicians locking horns over the greater trick, thereby reducing the romanticism of turn of the century showmanship into a petty squabble of wits which is over long and under thought out.
The magic of prestidigitation is the same as film itself, a suspension of belief and a living in the moment. If you ruin the trick then you can never get it back, and The Prestige is a film designed to do just that. And just when its time to reveal the last hidden secret (that you've by now guessed over an hour ago) the conclusion is sprung, the curtain is pulled back and we just what dark forces are pulling the strings here: Deus Ex Machina in all its terrible trappings. Aptly Nolan's box office achievements must be held up as a testament to his own great skills at misdirection.
3 Top Hats out of 10 (BAD)
"Pay no attention to that director behind the curtain..."
If there is one director who excels at telegraphing a films intentions, of obfuscating terrible plot holes through expensive visuals, and produce more dubious morality eyerolls per minute and still have the general public lap it up and ask for more then you have to look no further than Christopher Nolan (Memento). This Prestige is literally someone ruining the mystery of magic (both on screen and off) by over explaining every little detail and still expecting the ending to be some sort of surprise (guess what, it isn't). In typical Nolan style the movie looks great, every frame a 1900's fashion magazine. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale try to outdo each other through a number of years as dueling magicians locking horns over the greater trick, thereby reducing the romanticism of turn of the century showmanship into a petty squabble of wits which is over long and under thought out.
The magic of prestidigitation is the same as film itself, a suspension of belief and a living in the moment. If you ruin the trick then you can never get it back, and The Prestige is a film designed to do just that. And just when its time to reveal the last hidden secret (that you've by now guessed over an hour ago) the conclusion is sprung, the curtain is pulled back and we just what dark forces are pulling the strings here: Deus Ex Machina in all its terrible trappings. Aptly Nolan's box office achievements must be held up as a testament to his own great skills at misdirection.
3 Top Hats out of 10 (BAD)
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About Me
- Kevin Gasaway via HardDrawn
- Turlock, California, United States
- Media and Reviews by Kevin Gasaway