Reviews

The really controversial and daring thing about this film is NOT its portrayal of a remorseful pedophile. The consequences of his actions, both on his family and himself, are devastating. Evidently, some people have taken offense at the idea that he is also a real human being, capable of remorse and grief. By not turning him into a non-human monster, and by forcing the audience to get inside his head, his actions become more terrible, and more reprehensible, not less so. No, this is not the daring thing about this movie. The real daring aspect of the movie is that Solondz takes characters whose lives are desperately out-of-control, whose actions are outrageously shocking, and he makes a COMEDY out of it. The movie succeeds because it is indeed funny, at times hilarious, and yet it does not take its subjects or its characters at all lightly. All of the characters seem very real, which makes their actions all the more shocking. The movie forces us to see the story from each character's point of view, even if that point of view is odd or shocking. The music, rather than intensify our emotional response, shows us the character's own internal feelings. For example, when Bill Maplewood sees his son's friend at a ballgame, the scene is shot as if it were a love scene, complete with slow motion and sweeping, romantic music. This is, of course, the way Bill himself would have felt at the time. By shooting the scene in this way, the viewer is forced inside Bill's head. Since Bill's object of desire is an eleven year old boy, the scene becomes sickeningly ironic. The scene is much more effective and in fact more horrifying than if it had been shot in typical Hollywood style, complete with scary horror-film music. My only complaints about the movie are the subplot involving Kristina (Camryn Manheim), which seems to have been added only for its sick humor value, and the last scene. The last scene seems to be entirely designed to gross out and shock the audience. It is an unsatisfying ending to a movie which is not just trying to shock us, but instead trying to show us the dark, unseen, and all-too-true corners of American life.

This movie has quickly achieved cult status at my house. The more times I watch it, the sillier and funnier it seems. It stars one main character, was shot in one main location, and looks as if it were produced for about $100. This, of course, only adds to its quirky charm. The movie consists largely of Steve Oedekerk talking directly to the camera about everything that bothers him, and he is bothered by almost everything. The movie is really a thinly veiled stand-up comedy routine, but that doesn't make it any less hilarious. (A bit of related trivia: You can actually see a little of Steve Oedekerk playing himself as a stand-up comedian on an episode of 'Full House', in which he appears on Star Search!)

Dark City is everything I might want in a movie - dark, visually engaging, and complex, with a very human core. Like most good science fiction, the film concerns that which makes us human. Are we indeed simply a collection of memories, or are we something more? The plot twists and turns, and at each turn, we must not only reassess the characters and their situations, but also their reality itself. The highly stylized visuals complement the dark story expertly. Every shot is a visual delight, a dark and creepy nightmare. The Strangers, whose ominous presence will linger in your mind long after the film is over, are a creepy combination of the demons from Hellraiser and the Nosferatu/Salem's Lot style vampires. I can't say anything else without giving too much away. Take my word for it - fans of science fiction, horror, and 'twilight zone'-style morality plays will have much to treasure here!

The Stupids is one of those movies that about 97% of the people in the world will think is, well, stupid. The other 3% (including me) will think it is one of the funniest movies they have ever seen! Here's a sample: a couple of Stupids are in a room when the lights suddenly go out. What happened? The Stupids assume, of course that they must be dead! If that makes you laugh, go see this movie. Otherwise, stay away!