Unfortunately,
this will have to be a rental for most of you. And I don't say
unfortunately because of the story or the acting or the directing is
good or even decent. I say unfortunately because the cinematography...
the "look" of this film, is amazing (ok... at times).
Unfortunately, THE FALL has a very limited release, and therefore, it won't be in theatres long if at all. I made it to the very last showing at an art house in Pasadena. All traces of the movie (posters, marquees, literature) was swept from the building and replaced by another film with a foreign name before this screening was over. Good luck finding it on the big screen, but that's how this was meant to be watched.
There's a bit of Hollywood lore here. The legend (yes... it's a legend) goes that acclaimed and eccentric director Tarsem made this film years ago. No one saw it - except Spike Jonze. Jonze decided he liked it so much it should be marketed and re-released, hence this resurgence of the film. Unfortunately, it's still not going to be seen by many, but I was glad I got the chance.
The
story is of a band of unlikely characters with one common goal -
killing a tyrant governor. They go on a PRINCESS BRIDE like quest, but
this is all just a story. A story told by bed ridden depressive who
wants a little girl to get him morphine in order to commit suicide. Its
a film split by parallel narratives, and its an effective device.
The problem with the fall is, the content is jut not very solid. It seems to be a children's story adapted in such a way that adults could appreciate it, but the only thing this adult appreciated what said visuals. The dialogue was terrible. The acting was bad. The story was absurd (to a point of purpose). Nearly everything about this film was un-noteworthy. But the visuals were more often than not spectacular.
Tarsem,
for those of you who don't know the name is has done a limited amount
of films, but one of them was THE CELL starring Jennifer Lopez. I
know... I know... strike one. BUT, the world he was able to create
visually in THE CELL was breathtaking. And he did it again in THE FALL.
I like Tarsem. I wish he would make silent films. Voices aren't needed in the beauty he's able to create. His style is unlike anything I've ever seen, and I'd like to see a lot more of it.
I just didn't like THE FALL. That said, the sweeping visuals and vibrant colors deserve projection on the big screen. I sound like a broken record. So I'll just say... So I'll just say... So I'll just say...
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Josh Gloer, Movie Correspondent
You can find Josh's column One Harsh Critic, published every other Sunday. Tuesday, Wednesday... (who can tell at this point?) at http://oneharshcritic.gather.com/.
You can keep up with Josh's postings and his Gather activity by joining his Gather network. Just click here: http://filmmaker1997.gather.com/, and then select the orange "connect" button on the left hand side of the page.
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