Friday, May 13, 2005
Why isn't the word Palindrome a Palindrome?
Last night I made it to the final showing of the week of Palindromes. (I’m still a little pissed that it only played a week here.) I really don’t know what to make of this film. I enjoyed the experience, which is more than I can say of Solondz’s last film Storytelling, but I don’t thing the film will stick with me.
Todd Solondz has a knack to make difficult films but other than throwing uncomfortable moments at the audience I really can’t see much point or have much emotional tie to this film. Part of the problem is having multiple actresses play the lead part. The jarring changes and the amateurish acting by some of the actresses only kept me emotionally disconnected form this film.
I did enjoy the scenes at Mama Sunshine a rather surreal religious freak show handicapped children. They have the cheery disposition of The Brady Bunch but sing and dance like The Partridge Family, complete with psychedelic bus. But past the surface I wonder what Solondz was saying with the key element of the film abortion then having this bizarre sequence with relatively happy kids overcoming birth defects.
I’ve read Solondz indicating what he was trying to do in the film. And while I can see admire his comments I really don’t care if it doesn’t translate to the screen. But I can’t really trash the film since it does kill 100 minutes without too much harm. Sadly that’s about all I ask of a mainstream film but still seem disappointed when that all an independent film delivers.
Todd Solondz has a knack to make difficult films but other than throwing uncomfortable moments at the audience I really can’t see much point or have much emotional tie to this film. Part of the problem is having multiple actresses play the lead part. The jarring changes and the amateurish acting by some of the actresses only kept me emotionally disconnected form this film.
I did enjoy the scenes at Mama Sunshine a rather surreal religious freak show handicapped children. They have the cheery disposition of The Brady Bunch but sing and dance like The Partridge Family, complete with psychedelic bus. But past the surface I wonder what Solondz was saying with the key element of the film abortion then having this bizarre sequence with relatively happy kids overcoming birth defects.
I’ve read Solondz indicating what he was trying to do in the film. And while I can see admire his comments I really don’t care if it doesn’t translate to the screen. But I can’t really trash the film since it does kill 100 minutes without too much harm. Sadly that’s about all I ask of a mainstream film but still seem disappointed when that all an independent film delivers.
# posted by ChrisR @ 10:00 PM 
