The River King blends mystical elements with crime mystery and gently draws you in. The story deals with the mysterious death of prep-school student, and the personal struggles of a small-town police officer trying to solve the case that no one wants to be solved. Several unoriginal elements lend one to believe the story will take the usual turns and twists - an influential private school holding power over a small town, the good cop/bad cop scenario, fraternity hazing gone awry. Thankfully, this film plot has more in store for the viewer than oft-seen plot constructions, as it winds its way through a tale rich in feeling and mood. With touches of well-placed humor, strong acting, beautiful scenery, and moments of striking cinematography, this film is worth a viewing.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Civic Duty
(2006)
Mixed Messages
22 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Civic Duty is a well-made, well-acted film with some confusing messages. While the script is a bit weak in dialog in some places, all together the story holds together well. My biggest problem with this film is it's overall message. Up to the last few minutes, the message was clear depending on your political persuasion.
For the conservative, the message seemed to be that our democratic system was too soft, allowing sleeper terrorists carte blanch to plan their nefarious deeds under the protection of the law. The average citizen should keep their eyes open, be vigilant but level headed, and pursue their instinctual suspicions. The Arab living next door could in fact be the next murderer of innocent people.
For the liberal, the message appeared to be a warning call. The media instills fear in us - these days about terrorists hiding among us. So powerful is this daily bombardment of messages, that a simple guy with too much time on his hands can become possessed with suspicion, and lose his mind and reason.
But the last few minutes, in which it seems evident that the suspicious Arab in question was in fact a terrorist, seems to justify the more right-wing take on the matter. Disturbing to say the least.
For the conservative, the message seemed to be that our democratic system was too soft, allowing sleeper terrorists carte blanch to plan their nefarious deeds under the protection of the law. The average citizen should keep their eyes open, be vigilant but level headed, and pursue their instinctual suspicions. The Arab living next door could in fact be the next murderer of innocent people.
For the liberal, the message appeared to be a warning call. The media instills fear in us - these days about terrorists hiding among us. So powerful is this daily bombardment of messages, that a simple guy with too much time on his hands can become possessed with suspicion, and lose his mind and reason.
But the last few minutes, in which it seems evident that the suspicious Arab in question was in fact a terrorist, seems to justify the more right-wing take on the matter. Disturbing to say the least.
Cargo
(2006)
Unresolved Questions but Perhaps Worth a View
21 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
An interesting collaborative production out of Spain, staring a leading German actor, and shot in English, "Cargo" starts, continues, and finishes with a permeating sense of dread and discomfort.
Imagine the scene in "Das Boot" in which the ruddy engineer loses it, and extend that to a full-length film (adding some mysterious sounds and disappearances of characters) and you get the general feeling.
For all its beautiful, gritty imagery, the story leaves some significant questions unanswered. That's not necessarily bad in a film. For example, a question like "Does the captain's ominous drawing of the beautiful parrot turned demon actually mean something literal, or metaphoric?" leaves you with something to think about and discuss.
But, other questions (Why and how are the sailors disappearing? Are they being killed or jumping ship from guilt? How exactly does the boy drown when the other thrown-over passenger seems to come out just fine?) leave you wondering if the script was badly cut, the film badly edited, or were bad direction or budgetary restrictions to blame. While glad to have seen it, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to a friend, unless they are a thriller or mystery fanatic.
Imagine the scene in "Das Boot" in which the ruddy engineer loses it, and extend that to a full-length film (adding some mysterious sounds and disappearances of characters) and you get the general feeling.
For all its beautiful, gritty imagery, the story leaves some significant questions unanswered. That's not necessarily bad in a film. For example, a question like "Does the captain's ominous drawing of the beautiful parrot turned demon actually mean something literal, or metaphoric?" leaves you with something to think about and discuss.
But, other questions (Why and how are the sailors disappearing? Are they being killed or jumping ship from guilt? How exactly does the boy drown when the other thrown-over passenger seems to come out just fine?) leave you wondering if the script was badly cut, the film badly edited, or were bad direction or budgetary restrictions to blame. While glad to have seen it, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to a friend, unless they are a thriller or mystery fanatic.
Them
(2006)
Edge of Your Seat
21 July 2006
While I would never classify "Them" as science fiction in the least, it is definitely a keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller, but one tastefully made without gratuitous violence or gore. Based on a true life story, this film speaks to the banality of violence, and the essence of fear. I've seen plenty of gripping thrillers, but this one kept me squirming and shielding my eyes for a full hour, with an ending that leaves you stunned. Speaking no French or Romanian and having seen it with English sub-titles, I cannot attest to the value of the script. The performances, however, seem solid and the film is expertly shot and musically scored - all these elements add to the power of the film. I would appreciate more information on the real events on which "Them" is based, so if anyone knows more, please contact me.
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