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Overall Rating : 3/10
Directed By : Richard Kelly
Dwayne Johnson (The Game Plan)
Seann William Scott (Mr. Woodcock)
Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Return)
Mandy Moore (License to Wed)
Supplied By : Sony Pictures
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : March. 17, 2008
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| PLOT Boxer Santaros is an action star who's stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with Krysta Now, an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Ronald Taverner, a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy. | ||||
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| THE REVIEW Now, I usually start out my reviews, with a little description, you know, sort of my own little interpretation of the plot, in means to maybe expand the basic synopsis given. But with this review, I find it difficult to muster up enough wit and structure to come up with one for this film. Of course the film I am referring to is Writer/Director Richard Kelly's supposed apocalyptical epic SOUTHLAND TALES. I have looked forward to this film for quite some time, since I have been a long time fan of star Dwayne Johnson(which here, marks the first film where he drops his Professional Wrestling moniker, "The Rock"). I became even more eager to see SOUTHLAND TALES after viewing Kelly's debut, DONNIE DARKO recently - a film that slightly confused me, but I still saw it as semi understandable....I enjoyed it. With SOUTHLAND TALES, Richard Kelly, brings us more of what seems is going to be his trademarks, long drawn out and confusing narratives and scenes that do not exactly match up to one another....this time everything is more confusing than last, and it's been tied with a 'Book of Revelations themed" bow. Going back to the topic of a plot explanation, Kelly chooses to feed us so many subplots that come from just about every direction, so writing one would mean me writing a book sized entry, or more to summarize the film and still leave out a lot of things. The DVD, which has a ridiculously long runtime of 144 minutes, is a visually appealing film, but as a whole entity, it is sincerely one big confusing mess. With the US theatrical limited release, the film was ultimately trimmed and is 20 minutes shorter than it's screenings at the Cannes film festival, and with this said, even with the 20 minutes cut, along with a few characters, it still remains tangled as ever. It seems as if the Director, with both of his releases, is setting out to be a filmmaker that makes an impact, as both of his projects so far have been quite ambitious and imaginative. Imagination is great and I love the ideas he has brought forth(both films revolved around time travel and death), but in his first two films, that creativity has essentially overrode the execution of a coherent plot - in the case of SOUTHLAND TALES, unfortunately the extent is even greater. Caught up in the mess that this film creates, is actually some great acting. It's an ensemble cast, that is filled to the brim with a variety of stars, some are bigger than others, while the others, are many faces you're likely to remember seeing somewhere(I think I even spotted Horror Director Eli Roth getting shot up on a toilet). Since there is such a big cast, I won't elaborate on all performances, but I will note the standouts. Most importantly would have to be Dwayne Johnson, whom portrays Boxer Santaros, an amnesiac action star, who is caught in between himself and a character in which he will play in his upcoming movie. I do have to admit that Johnson has exceeded all expectations I had for him back when he left the Wrestling ring for the world of acting, as he is becoming quite the impressionable actor, and is improving with each performance he gives. Another guy that is improving, is the unlikely actor, Justin Timberlake. he serves as the film's narrator, his role of Pilot, is a minor one, but still, for me, he was quite memorable(almost as memorable as some of the quirky character names in the film). I'm not a big fan of Timberlake's music, but as an actor, i'm not ashamed to say that I must give him credit. Other noticeable cast members are the likes of Sean William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore(a personal favorite), John Larroquette(the opening narrator of the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE films) and Jon Lovitz. Out of the list named, Sarah Michelle Gellar is the most prominent in her performance as a Porn Star that is obsessed with marketing herself(this might be an indirect nod to Jenna Jameson), named Krysta Now, the others honestly seem like great talent wasted, especially Mandy Moore as the thinly written character, Madeline Frost Santaros. My first reaction to this film was "how can a film with this many recognizable names and an acclaimed Director go direct-to-DVD?" Well that answer is simply found, as the answer is within itself. Sure the cinematogrphy, cast and production are all top notch, but as far as the story goes, this one loses itself, as well as it's audience in the midst of it's high end effects and overall ambition. |
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| GORE
METER 2.5/10 A severed hand, severed fingers, some gunshot wounds....nothing big. |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 4.5/10 The film's score was produced by Moby, and is comprised of ambient techo, and pop songs. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM SOUTHLAND TALES is a film that was meant to be an epic film, that ultimately delieved a meesage. Unfortunately after it's overly long runtime, that message will still be unclear for most of us. Some have said if you read the graphic novels that were released along side the film prior to seeing this, you will better understand it - I have not read them, and after seeing the film version, I really have no desire to do so. This DVD will be released on March 18, 2008 |
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