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Nov 19, 2007

Fletch's Film Review: Southland Tales (part I)

I normally post my reviews in the order that I see them, partly due to topicality (a review of a two-month old movie has less impact than that of a new release), but mostly because it's freshest in my head right after I see it (obviously). I have to break that trend today.

Saw Southland Tales Friday. In case you haven't heard of it/much about it, it's the latest from Donnie Darko writer/director Richard Kelly. It's about...well...

It's about a lot of things. It has a lot of characters. It is either one of the best or one of the worst movies that I've ever seen. At the very least, in accordance with the previous sentence, it is amongst the more interesting movies you could see for awhile, and definitely should be seen, for the spectacle of it all if for no other reason.

At this point, I'm not even adequately prepared to give it a proper review. I need to see it again and will soon. Until then, if you saw and/or liked Donnie Darko at all (or Brazil or Twelve Monkeys, for starters), I urge you to see it and give me your comments. My preliminary rating:

Fletch's Film Rating:

"You're the best...around...and I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore."


7 people have chosen wisely: on "Fletch's Film Review: Southland Tales (part I)"

Sheamus the... said...

wow...thats crazy.

One o fmy fave movies is Brazil and will see anything by Terry G. Are you sayin gits in his vein? All the early reviews I've read of this say it sucks so I am excited to see something encouraging me to see it.

Adam Frazier said...

Agreed - I really want to see this.

PS, we members of the LAMB need to get together and start talking about movie of the year! ha

24 Hours to Midnight: The Blog! said...

Months after I've seen this movie, I still can't decide: Do I love it? Do I loathe it? I gotta come down on the side of "loathing", because the finished product is not a GOOD movie. Can't go giving accolades for untapped potential and missed opportunities. However, I can say that I loved parts of this movie - loved Dwayne Johnson, loved Sarah Michelle Gellar, loved the dreaminess of the whole production. Loved most of the music selections. Hated the unrelenting pretentiousness of the whole film.

-"24 Hours to Midnight: The Blog!"
http://24hourstomidnight.wordpress.com

Fletch said...

I feel you. I think I came down finally as "hate to love it," in that it'll be a guilty pleasure love for years to come.

Yea, it's bad...but it's SOOOOO good at being bad, and I'mm much more apt to reward audacity and originality in filmmaking than the alternative. A noble failure is way better than a boring success.

And I own the DVD, so I think that seals the deal on where I come down on it.

Fletch said...

Oh, by the way - did you get some long-ass error script when you accessed this review page? I did, and I have no idea why. I hope to never see it again...

Dave said...

Funny, I have had the same thoughts about this film as well. Even after a second viewing I am not quite sure what to think, but I am going with good film rather than bad. It is deep enough that it can suck you into its make believe world, and for me that is something that I love a film to do even if the world that I have been sucked into often seems preposterous.

Fletch said...

Going back to the archives, Dave! I like it.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of just about any film where the director takes a lot of chance and/or it's built upon such an intricate world. I like audacious. I'd much rather see people try like hell and fail than watch something like The Bounty Hunter.

Did you see The Box?