|
But that's the kind of film Southland Tales
is. Some would call it art, others might call it abstract, some might
call it supreme political satire - most will call it 'an overtly
expensive bit of self indulgence'. It really is a decsion that each
viewer has to make themselves.
The much awaited follow-up to Richard Kelly's cult hit Donnie Darko (which blurred the lines between art film and teen angst masterpiece), Southland Tales, is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los
Angeles as it stands on the brink of social, economic and
environmental disaster.
Boxer Santaros (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) is
an action star who's stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with
Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar, essentially playing a future version of her Cruel Intentions character), an adult film star developing her
own reality television project, and Ronald Taverner (Seann William
Scott), a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast
conspiracy.
Why do we care? Because, dear reader: This Is The Way The World Ends...
From the get-go, Southland Tales
isn't anywhere near as confusing as it wants to be, but it's confusing
enough to alienate more than a few viewers. It's the sort of
film which thrives on being somewhat "crazy" and "metaphoric", but
really, is just a bit of a wank (albeit a wank with a really great
cast).
While Donnie Darko drew you in with the overall creepiness of the project, Southland
never quites let's the audience in close thanks largely to it's
tounge-in-cheek performances. The cool sense of impending doom and the Darko-esque
voice narration of Justin Timberlake seems completley at odds with the
pantomimic nature of the actors. Which is a real shame. Had everyone
played it a bit straighter, Kelly might have had one extremely
engrossing futuristic vision.
Problems aside, it must be said
that the visuals here are stunning. The flick looks like it was shot on
a budget of $150Million plus (which is a credit to all involved
considering that budget was well under the $25M mark) with every
production element (even down to title graphics) that give the film a
superbly glossy epic feel. It looks and feels exactly as Kelly
described it - "a mixture of Andy Warhol and Phillip K Dick" - whether
that excuses it for it's faults is another issue all together.
Not
entirely a lost cause (there is a pretty strong message in there about
homeland security, as well as a cool musical sequence with Timberlake
covering The Killers), but ultimately comes off as an expensive
excercise in proving why arts students, acid and camera equipment just
don't mix.
Give it a try, you get the feeling this one might grow on you after a few viewings...
EXTRAS
Hardly
the "Directors Cut", which we all know will be on the way (well, it
better be - someone needs to make sense of it all), but there are a few
extras here which help put together the puzzle.
There's an
extensive look back at proceedings with the must-watch featurette
"USIDent TV: Surveilling the Southland" (try and watch it prior to the
film - it helps), as well as the cheap & creepy animated short
"This Is The Way The World Ends" (which also makes a cameo appearance
in the feature if you keep an eye out).
Worth taking a look at
on those cold depressive nights in when you want to feel alienated from
the world and prove to yourself you have some intelligence.
Conclusion:
Movie 68% Extras: 60%
|
