posted by RICK : 9:57 AM
Saw the new Cronenberg film yesterday afternoon. I've seen none of his other work, which makes it kind of hard to write this post, but I'm trusting that we'll make it through. I did read the graphic novel on which the film is based, however, and found it luke-warm. The GN is pure pulp, and written by the same guy who wrote "The Road to Perdition." Between the two, HoV was a better movie, but RtP was the better book. My problem with the graphic novel for HoV was unlike the movie, the violence illustrated on the pages (which was some of the most grusome acts I've come across) didn't have any meaning, but instead simply devlivered on the buyers investment in a mildly interesting story peppered with plenty of seedy acts. I was relieved to see that a lot of the crazier stuff from the book didn't make the film, and rightly so. The books violence is so extreme it would totally disconnect the viewer in this otherwise very low-key, very straight forward tale. Cronenberg was correct to rework the last half of the book for the film giving it a dramatic levity that the book couldn't even come close to-- it was also strikingly funny, which was unexpected. But above all, HoV, the movie, works because of the acting. Structurally, you know where everything is going from moment 1, but Vigo and Maria sell it like 5th Avenue street vendors. Absolutely amazing performances.
All that being said, this is not the best film of the year, and while residing in the upper-tier of 2005 releases, I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be long forgotten by the time people start to care.
Since I've been absent, here's the last 10 things I've watched:749-Entourage (Complete Second Season) * * 1/2
750-The Constant Gardener * * *
751-Undeclared (Complete Series) * * *
752-Curb Your Enthusiasm (Complete 4th Season) * * *
753-Thumbsucker * * * 1/2
754-It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Complete 1st Season) * * * *
755-Starved (Complete 1st Season) * * 1/2
756-Lord of War * * *
757-The Shield (Complete 4th Season) * * *
758-A History of Violence * * * 1/2
A lot of television, no?