This movie is a mess. It was directed by
Lee Daniels, who previously directed Precious. Some of the tricks that worked in that movie, like dream sequences, do NOT work in this film. They make this movie harder to follow and more jittery, and it already has plenty of problems.
The first problem would be the script - it has too many story lines (adapted for the screen by Lee Daniels). The relationship between two brothers, their housekeeper, their womanizing dad, their missing mom. There is a murder mystery, closeted homosexuality, the psychology of a woman who is attracted to prisoners, racism, corrupt sheriffs. Some of these stories needed to go, but instead they're all crammed in.
Perhaps even more problematic is the mood of the film. There are many types of disturbing that can occur in a film. Quentin T pushes buttons and disturbs, but his movies attract while they repel. The subject matter of some films disturbs while being artistic. This film was disturbing in its ugliness and its jarring behavior.
John Cusack plays a repellant, evil criminal. Why
Nicole Kidman's character is attracted to him is beyond comprehension and not explained. They have a nauseating and bizarre sex scene in a prison interview room in front of three witnesses - and I don't know why. I don't understand what it added to the film. Most of the people in the film wear clothes, but
Zac Efron spends half his screen time in tightie - whities. He's very attractive, but I'm not sure there's a reason for the lack of clothes. The film is jarring. Some of the performances are interesting, but they don't hang together as a whole. I applaud
Matthew M for trying new things, and it's too bad this movie is not a better representation of his abilities.
Macy Gray as the housekeeper was the high point for me. Nevertheless, I would skip this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment