When I saw this movie for the first time I really enjoyed it (apart from the tacked-on ending that appears to belong to
-
DominicJones — 13 years ago(December 27, 2012 08:34 PM)
I agree, it's really interesting what this has thrown up.
I've watched the film maybe a dozen times since it came out and it's grown more simplified and clumsy with every viewing. The first few times I thought it was an under-appreciated indie masterpiece, and I still think the acting is wonderful, the cinematography is fantastic and the two main characters are well drawn. The supporting characters are disappointingly one-dimensional and the marketing of the film was an exercise in how NOT to market a film.
The complexities of the film's subject matter is brought up with from the get-go, and there is undoubtedly an undercurrent of sexuality to the whole film, though I think that is the background that lends dread and tension to Trent and Devon's relationship, because it's just not there. Devon is lonely, she's looking for a friend. Trent seems to have dysfunctional relationships and they are brought together by circumstance and accident. Everyone in this film is lonely to some degree, and the expression of the human need to connect is only successfully realised through Trent and Devon, and the social norms (both in the film and expressed here in this thread) doom their relationship that can only end well in a fantasy world. Everything around them is ugly and shallow.
It's a beautiful but flawed film. I just wish Mischa Barton would start playing interesting characters like Devon again. And that Sam Rockwell would get the recognition his skills so obviously deserve. -
Rena_Mahone — 11 years ago(April 22, 2014 04:53 PM)
I think it was rather brilliant. I did not see anything filthy about it with the exceptions of the dog and chickens getting killed - that was disturbing.
Boycott movies that involve real animal violence! (and their directors too)