Hey folks, Harry here.... The word that came from Cannes was a bit mixed on Cronenberg's latest, but then word is usually mixed on David's films and that doesn't stop me from admiring and enjoying each and every new film he makes. They succeed at different levels and consistencies, but they are never like anybody else's films... They are always David Cronenberg movies, and that should be enough for any film geek to chance it. Here's a pair of brothers in the Argento vein.... Deep Red and lil bro Thin Red....
Hey Harry,
Deep Red here in Cambridge, U.K. with a review of David Cronenberg's latest film, Spider. I believe my younger sibling (Thin Red _______) has already sent you a quite ecstatic review of it. Here are my thoughts:
After some sombre opening credits we meet Clegg (Ralph Fiennes), stepping off a train in London, on his way to a house that offers accomodation for 'mentally unbalanced' people who are either making a recovery or seemingly less dangerous than their more unhinged breathren. We've all seen people like Clegg at stations or cities around the world: shabby, smelly, unsightly, not quite with it. Fiennes delivers an amazing performance: he smokes endlessly, scrawls unintelligible words in a notebook, and mutters words to himself as he remembers his childhood.
At this house (located opposite an enormous gasworks, the significance of which becomes apparent later), he begins to remember his childhood from the 1950s, and the events that led to his current situation. Fienne's Clegg watches on as he sees his younger self (Bradley Hall) in these times. Apparently friendless, he stays at home after school with his loving mother (Miranda Richardson). His father (Gabriel Byrne) is becoming bored with his family, preferring to go down the pub with his wife. When he starts having an affair with a local slut (also played by Miranda Richardson), tragedy lurks around the corner for mother, father and child...
It's a simple tale, but told in an intelligent, thought-provoking, low-key way that one does not expect from Cronenberg. A dark, absorbing drama with absolutely no showiness at all. Although actors playing different roles invites natural wariness on the part of many movie-goers (particularly those who barely survived David Lynch's Mulholland Drive), this film employs the tactic for all the right reasons: the viewer is not required to make some ridiculous leap of logic in order to "get it". The performances are great - Fiennes and Richardson do great work, ably supported by Bynre and Lynn Redgrave as the woman running the house. But where next for Cronenberg? Here is a director who is maturing as a filmmaker, looking for a new direction for his career. If he continues down this road, I can't wait to see what's next.
So all in all, a very, very good film - well worth anyone's time.
Deep Red
Here's the little brother of doom...
Morning, Knowles. Thin Red here...
My brother (Deep Red) and I went to the UK premiere of Cronenberg's latest SPIDER, last night - at the Cambridge Film Festival; and it was rather spiffing, I must say. I doubt this'll get on to your site, I'm sure a few early reviews got in after Cannes. Anyway - i keep my fingers crossed and anything else i've got going, crossed, to hope i manage to climb to the dizzy heights of a review on your jolly website.
My (brief, because i'm at work) review of SPIDER.
I havent had too many encounters with Cronenberg, but with the few I have had, i was suitably intrigued and impressed. Videodrome was creepy and brilliant, while eXistenZ was scary and poignant. I could see a theme running in his work: identity, and the loss or discovery of it (having read through reviews of his other movies too). I wanted more of his work, and just havent got round to it, until i found that his new movie was being premiered right on my back doorstep 4months before its even going to be released across the UK. Bargain!! I asked my brother to buy tickets as soon as possible (2weeks before it was shown) and satisfied my cravings by watching other premieres such as "Amadeus: Directors Cut" (3hrs long). and Richard Harris(Gladiator, Harry Potter)'s latest "My Kingdom" (modern adaptation of King Lear in Liverpool - dont let it put you off, its good!), at which he attended! i shook his hand!
Anyway - when Spider came along on sunday night, i sat on my seat (front row... on the left side, grrr), and 1h 40mins later, got on my feet and walked away. I wasn't sure how i felt. I knew i'd liked the film, but... where was my reaction? I realised i was in a slight shock. I'd given my brother a thumbs up, as i passed him and his g/f, but i still wasnt sure. Then it hit me, the reaction i yearn for after a film i look forward to. "Wow". If i get a "wow". i know i'm voting 10/10 on IMDB. And this wow was involuntary.
Cronenberg's direction and his cinematographer have created a mood piece more than anything. His lead character, Ralph Fiennes' "Clegg" barely talks: he rambles and mutters under his breath. So if the lead performer is not too vocal Cronenberg must compensate and compliment him. He does this marvellously.
I won't go too detailed into the story, because i hate it when people give spoilers. But suffice to say, Clegg is a loner and somewhat unstable man, who arrives at a house in London, where a few similarly unwell people go to be catered for, and looked after. Here he starts having flashbacks of his youth as a 10yr old, looked after by his loving mother (Miranda Richardson) and not-so-loving father (Gabriel Byrne). and thats all you're getting - lets just say, his flashbacks dont help him get over his instability, but make it worse.
Cronenberg compensates for the lack of insight into Fiennes character, by investing into his history, and having him as an onlooker into his past, and his parents, tremendously performed, especially by Miranda Richardson, who will more than likely be up for several awards come March. Her multi-charcter yet same-character performances are wonderous... so different, i thought it was another actress, until half way through. Byrne does a fine job, as does Lynn Redgrave. However, for this movie to be successful, Clegg needed to be a sympathetic, mysterious man, with a suspect past. Fiennes manages this very well. It takes a while to get used to his mannerisms, but when you do, you get to see how this man works, and by the end, why he is the way he is. Fiennes gives a cracking, understated performance.
I hope you come out with the reaction i did about 3mins after you've walked out the cinema...
............................................................................
.........................................."wow"
Chin-chin
***Thin Red
