Nordling here.
Remember that BITING ELBOWS: BAD MOTHERFUCKER video that made the rounds a couple of years ago? If not, here it is:
The director, Ilya Naishuller, has now basically made a full-length version of that video, and it's premiering tonight at the Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness. A few minutes is exciting, but I have no idea how I would be able to handle 90+ minutes of shaky-cam action. But, admittedly, it looks pretty freaking cool. The inherent problem with first person narrative films is the idea that, if there's a camera involved, at some point that camera should logically be left in the dirt while the one holding it runs for their life.
That's why I really like what I'm seeing here - that possibility is gone, and instead we're put through the ringer along with the protagonist. It's a fascinating way to tell a story, definitely born from the videogame generation, and it remains to be seen whether HARDCORE (not to be confused with the 1970s George C. Scott film) is just a visual ride or something more substantial. It's a hell of a lot of fun to watch, regardless. Having been released in Russia, this will make its way to our shores fairly soon. Here's the trailer:
Nordling, out.
