PARK CITY -- There is something about boats that bring out the worst in people, at least filmmakers seem to think so. "Cargo" uses a rundown transport ship as a claustrophobic hothouse for all sorts of twisted behavior. An atmospheric feature debut for Brit documentary veteran Clive Gordon, the film is effectively creepy but low on logic. After the festival circuit, it might find rough seas theatrically.
Inspired by a newspaper item about how cargo ships were throwing stowaways overboard rather than risk the legal penalties when discovered in European ports, "Cargo" details what happens to the human spirit when it's locked up and allowed to fester.
The hero of the film is ostensibly Chris (Daniel Bruhl), a young German traveler who gets into trouble in an African port town, loses his passport and stows away on a cargo headed for Marseilles. From the start, though, he is such a hothead he steals a bracelet in a street market and punches a cop that he is hard to root for.
Although he is more or less accepted into the motley crew of the Gull and taken under wing by the ship's taciturn Capt. Brookes (Peter Mullan), Chris continues to act recklessly. It seems he's not the only stowaway on board; a handful of Africans are hiding in the bowels of the boat. When crew members start mysteriously disappearing with only their boots left behind, the crew hunts down the interlopers and tosses them overboard.
Except one: a young woman named Subira (Nikki Amuka Bird), whom Chris befriends and brings food to even as she is pursued by the crew. But inside this game of cat and mouse is a penetrating character study. When Chris asks Brookes if there are any normal people on the ship, he answers, "just you."
There's the bearded and tortured cook Baptist (Luis Tosar), who has witnessed terrible things and done nothing about them; Herman (Gary Lewis), who climbs up the crow's nest naked, cackling like a bird; Rhombus (Samuli Edelmann), a blond, belligerent psychopath. And holding all these misfits in check is the brooding Capt. Brookes.
A man of few words, Brookes shares a terrible memory with his crew, which binds them together in a kind of secret society of cruelty. He is not a bad man, but one who has been bent out of shape by horrific events he should have but didn't control.
In a way the real main character is the ship itself, an old and rusting cargo boat salvaged by the film. Production designer Jordi Yrla has done a first-rate job dressing the sets, especially the ship's galley and cargo bay, to give them an ominous quality. Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt uses desaturated colors and documentary techniques to suggest the close quarters of the ship.
While other tech credits, including music by Stephen Warbeck, are accomplished and add to the feeling of authenticity, the film is ultimately betrayed by the storytelling. Gordon and writer Paul Laverty have not created a clear leading character and given the audience someone to care about. And Brookes big secret is too murky, as are some of the major plot points. In the end, as great as the film looks, it all leaves you a bit cold.
CARGO
Trauma and Wild Bunch present a Morena Films and Slate Films production
Credits:
Director: Clive Gordon
Screenwriter: Paul Laverty
Producers: Juan Gordon, Andrea Calderwood
Executive producers: Nigel Thomas, Pilar Benito, Tomas Eskilsson
Director of photography: Sean Bobbitt
Production designer: Jordi Yrla
Music: Stephen Warbeck, Sergio Moure
Costume designer: Bina Daigeler
Editor: Fernando Franco
Cast:
Brookes: Peter Mullan
Chris: Daniel Bruhl
Baptist: Luis Tosar
Herman: Gary Lewis
Rhombus: Samuli Edelmann
Subira: Nikki Amuka Bird
Ralph: Christopher Fairbank
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 90 minutes...
Inspired by a newspaper item about how cargo ships were throwing stowaways overboard rather than risk the legal penalties when discovered in European ports, "Cargo" details what happens to the human spirit when it's locked up and allowed to fester.
The hero of the film is ostensibly Chris (Daniel Bruhl), a young German traveler who gets into trouble in an African port town, loses his passport and stows away on a cargo headed for Marseilles. From the start, though, he is such a hothead he steals a bracelet in a street market and punches a cop that he is hard to root for.
Although he is more or less accepted into the motley crew of the Gull and taken under wing by the ship's taciturn Capt. Brookes (Peter Mullan), Chris continues to act recklessly. It seems he's not the only stowaway on board; a handful of Africans are hiding in the bowels of the boat. When crew members start mysteriously disappearing with only their boots left behind, the crew hunts down the interlopers and tosses them overboard.
Except one: a young woman named Subira (Nikki Amuka Bird), whom Chris befriends and brings food to even as she is pursued by the crew. But inside this game of cat and mouse is a penetrating character study. When Chris asks Brookes if there are any normal people on the ship, he answers, "just you."
There's the bearded and tortured cook Baptist (Luis Tosar), who has witnessed terrible things and done nothing about them; Herman (Gary Lewis), who climbs up the crow's nest naked, cackling like a bird; Rhombus (Samuli Edelmann), a blond, belligerent psychopath. And holding all these misfits in check is the brooding Capt. Brookes.
A man of few words, Brookes shares a terrible memory with his crew, which binds them together in a kind of secret society of cruelty. He is not a bad man, but one who has been bent out of shape by horrific events he should have but didn't control.
In a way the real main character is the ship itself, an old and rusting cargo boat salvaged by the film. Production designer Jordi Yrla has done a first-rate job dressing the sets, especially the ship's galley and cargo bay, to give them an ominous quality. Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt uses desaturated colors and documentary techniques to suggest the close quarters of the ship.
While other tech credits, including music by Stephen Warbeck, are accomplished and add to the feeling of authenticity, the film is ultimately betrayed by the storytelling. Gordon and writer Paul Laverty have not created a clear leading character and given the audience someone to care about. And Brookes big secret is too murky, as are some of the major plot points. In the end, as great as the film looks, it all leaves you a bit cold.
CARGO
Trauma and Wild Bunch present a Morena Films and Slate Films production
Credits:
Director: Clive Gordon
Screenwriter: Paul Laverty
Producers: Juan Gordon, Andrea Calderwood
Executive producers: Nigel Thomas, Pilar Benito, Tomas Eskilsson
Director of photography: Sean Bobbitt
Production designer: Jordi Yrla
Music: Stephen Warbeck, Sergio Moure
Costume designer: Bina Daigeler
Editor: Fernando Franco
Cast:
Brookes: Peter Mullan
Chris: Daniel Bruhl
Baptist: Luis Tosar
Herman: Gary Lewis
Rhombus: Samuli Edelmann
Subira: Nikki Amuka Bird
Ralph: Christopher Fairbank
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 90 minutes...
PARK CITY -- There is something about boats that bring out the worst in people, at least filmmakers seem to think so. "Cargo" uses a run-down transport ship as a claustrophobic hot house for all sorts of twisted behavior. An atmospheric feature debut for Brit documentary veteran Clive Gordon, film is effectively creepy but low on logic. After the festival circuit, pic may find rough seas theatrically.
Inspired by a newspaper item about how cargo ships were throwing stowaways overboard rather than risk the legal penalties when discovered in European ports, film details what happens to the human spirit when it's locked up and allowed to fester.
Hero of the film is ostensibly Chris (Daniel Bruhl), a young German traveler who gets into trouble in an African port town, loses his passport and stows away on a cargo headed for Marseilles. From the start, though, he is such a hothead--he steals a bracelet in a street market and punches a cop--that he is hard to root for.
Although he is more or less accepted into the motley crew of the Gull and taken under wing by the ship's taciturn Captain Brookes (Peter Mullan), Chris continues to act recklessly. It seems he's not the only stowaway on board; a handful of Africans are hiding in the bowels of the boat. When crew members start mysteriously disappearing with only their boots left behind, the crew hunts down the interlopers and tosses them overboard.
Except one--a young woman named Subira (Nikki Amuka Bird), whom Chris befriends and brings food to even as she is pursued by the crew. But inside this game of cat and mouse is a penetrating character study. When Chris asks Brookes if there are any normal people on the ship, he answers, "just you."
There's the bearded and tortured cook Baptist (Luis Tosar), who has witnessed terribly things and done nothing about them; Herman (Gary Lewis), who climbs up the crow's nest naked, cackling like a bird; Rhombus (Samuli Edelman), a blond, belligerent psychopath. And holding all these misfits in check is the brooding Captain Brookes.
A man of few words, Brookes shares a terrible memory with his crew, which binds them together in a kind of secret society of cruelty. He is not a bad man, but one who has been bent out of shape by horrific events he should have but didn't control.
In a way the real main character is the ship itself, an old and rusting cargo boat salvaged by the film. Production designer Jordi Yrla has done a first-rate job dressing the sets, especially the ship's galley and cargo bay, to give them an ominous quality. Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt uses desaturated colors and documentary techniques to suggest the close quarters of the ship.
While other tech credits, including music by Stephen Warbeck, are accomplished and add to the feeling of authenticity, the film is ultimately betrayed by the storytelling. Gordon and writer Paul Laverty have not created a clear leading character and given the audience someone to care about. And Brookes big secret is too murky, as are some of the major plot points. In the end, as great as the film looks, it all leaves you a bit cold.
CARGO
Trauma and Wild Bunch present a Morena Films and Slate Films production
Credits:
Director: Clive Gordon
Writer: Paul Laverty
Producers: Juan Gordon, Andrea Calderwood
Executive producers: Nigel Thomas, Pilar Benito, Tomas Eskilsson
Director of photography: Sean Bobbitt
Production designer: Jordi Yrla
Music: Stephen Warbeck, Sergio Moure
Costume designer: Bina Daigeler
Editor: Fernando Franco.
Cast:
Brookes: Peter Mullan
Chris: Daniel Bruhl
Baptist: Luis Tosar
Herman: Gary Lewis
Rhombus: Samuli Edelmann
Subira: Nikki Amuka Bird
Ralph: Christopher Fairbank
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 90 minutes...
Inspired by a newspaper item about how cargo ships were throwing stowaways overboard rather than risk the legal penalties when discovered in European ports, film details what happens to the human spirit when it's locked up and allowed to fester.
Hero of the film is ostensibly Chris (Daniel Bruhl), a young German traveler who gets into trouble in an African port town, loses his passport and stows away on a cargo headed for Marseilles. From the start, though, he is such a hothead--he steals a bracelet in a street market and punches a cop--that he is hard to root for.
Although he is more or less accepted into the motley crew of the Gull and taken under wing by the ship's taciturn Captain Brookes (Peter Mullan), Chris continues to act recklessly. It seems he's not the only stowaway on board; a handful of Africans are hiding in the bowels of the boat. When crew members start mysteriously disappearing with only their boots left behind, the crew hunts down the interlopers and tosses them overboard.
Except one--a young woman named Subira (Nikki Amuka Bird), whom Chris befriends and brings food to even as she is pursued by the crew. But inside this game of cat and mouse is a penetrating character study. When Chris asks Brookes if there are any normal people on the ship, he answers, "just you."
There's the bearded and tortured cook Baptist (Luis Tosar), who has witnessed terribly things and done nothing about them; Herman (Gary Lewis), who climbs up the crow's nest naked, cackling like a bird; Rhombus (Samuli Edelman), a blond, belligerent psychopath. And holding all these misfits in check is the brooding Captain Brookes.
A man of few words, Brookes shares a terrible memory with his crew, which binds them together in a kind of secret society of cruelty. He is not a bad man, but one who has been bent out of shape by horrific events he should have but didn't control.
In a way the real main character is the ship itself, an old and rusting cargo boat salvaged by the film. Production designer Jordi Yrla has done a first-rate job dressing the sets, especially the ship's galley and cargo bay, to give them an ominous quality. Cinematographer Sean Bobbitt uses desaturated colors and documentary techniques to suggest the close quarters of the ship.
While other tech credits, including music by Stephen Warbeck, are accomplished and add to the feeling of authenticity, the film is ultimately betrayed by the storytelling. Gordon and writer Paul Laverty have not created a clear leading character and given the audience someone to care about. And Brookes big secret is too murky, as are some of the major plot points. In the end, as great as the film looks, it all leaves you a bit cold.
CARGO
Trauma and Wild Bunch present a Morena Films and Slate Films production
Credits:
Director: Clive Gordon
Writer: Paul Laverty
Producers: Juan Gordon, Andrea Calderwood
Executive producers: Nigel Thomas, Pilar Benito, Tomas Eskilsson
Director of photography: Sean Bobbitt
Production designer: Jordi Yrla
Music: Stephen Warbeck, Sergio Moure
Costume designer: Bina Daigeler
Editor: Fernando Franco.
Cast:
Brookes: Peter Mullan
Chris: Daniel Bruhl
Baptist: Luis Tosar
Herman: Gary Lewis
Rhombus: Samuli Edelmann
Subira: Nikki Amuka Bird
Ralph: Christopher Fairbank
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 90 minutes...
- 1/30/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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