Erin StapletonBill Pullman is watching you from the confines of his neck flab
August 6th 2008 11:27
"Surveillance" Jennifer Lynch (2008)
Now, as a rule, I encourage the children of directors to then become directors. This system brought us Roman and Sofia Coppola. However, the important thing to remember about the Coppola kids, is that they do their own thing, have their own style, and really just hastle dad for some funding. Jennifer Lynch, on the other hand, has pinched her father's money, actors, plot and cinematography. So, really, "Surveillance" is a not very good copy of a David Lynch film.
*spoiler alert* (I'll try not to say too much, it would really wreck what was good about the movie to reveal the main twist)
Bill Pullman (David Lynch mainstay) is looking pretty old and portly these days. The trademark half-smile thing he does is a little bit lost in voluptuous neck fat. Meanwhile, his co-star, Julia Ormond (also in David Lynch's 'Inland Empire') purses her way through some very unflattering lighting, her wrinkles give it 'real'ness. (Something one assumes will be avoided in a semi-pseudo-surrealist film.)
Anyway, so the film centres around the investigation of a multiple homicide. Which is one of many the killers in question seem to have committed. The witnesses are interviewed, a child, a 'junkie' girl (who looks very not junkie) and an extremely dodgey policeman whose partner was killed during the incident. The film feels stilted, especially at first, it's as though the actors are trying to get used to something uncomfortable. There are a few great oneliners, including my person favourite policeman says: "what, they didn't hire you on the spot?" (sarcastically to junkie girl) who replies: "no, we weren't applying to be cops".
Lynch Jnr builds up this huge mystery, through the stories of the three characters, with Bill Pullman observing from another room where surveillance cameras are fed. Once the film hits its stride it travels along quite nicely, if not a little too much like a Lynch film (though not as good). But then, there's this big plot twist, which is supposed to be all clever and unexpected, but is really the thriller equivalent of 'and it was ALL a dream' (my hatred of which discussed earlier in "Night and Day"). The film is dropped on its head, and totally fucks it up for Jennifer Lynch. It will probably be another 15 years before she's brave enough to make another film. That's fine with me.
Also, title, "Surveillance" is really not appropriate to the film. Most of it has nothing to do with being watched and it's certainly not where the plot lies.
6/10
Now, as a rule, I encourage the children of directors to then become directors. This system brought us Roman and Sofia Coppola. However, the important thing to remember about the Coppola kids, is that they do their own thing, have their own style, and really just hastle dad for some funding. Jennifer Lynch, on the other hand, has pinched her father's money, actors, plot and cinematography. So, really, "Surveillance" is a not very good copy of a David Lynch film.
bill pullman and julia ormond in 'surveillance'
*spoiler alert* (I'll try not to say too much, it would really wreck what was good about the movie to reveal the main twist)
Bill Pullman (David Lynch mainstay) is looking pretty old and portly these days. The trademark half-smile thing he does is a little bit lost in voluptuous neck fat. Meanwhile, his co-star, Julia Ormond (also in David Lynch's 'Inland Empire') purses her way through some very unflattering lighting, her wrinkles give it 'real'ness. (Something one assumes will be avoided in a semi-pseudo-surrealist film.)
Anyway, so the film centres around the investigation of a multiple homicide. Which is one of many the killers in question seem to have committed. The witnesses are interviewed, a child, a 'junkie' girl (who looks very not junkie) and an extremely dodgey policeman whose partner was killed during the incident. The film feels stilted, especially at first, it's as though the actors are trying to get used to something uncomfortable. There are a few great oneliners, including my person favourite policeman says: "what, they didn't hire you on the spot?" (sarcastically to junkie girl) who replies: "no, we weren't applying to be cops".
Lynch Jnr builds up this huge mystery, through the stories of the three characters, with Bill Pullman observing from another room where surveillance cameras are fed. Once the film hits its stride it travels along quite nicely, if not a little too much like a Lynch film (though not as good). But then, there's this big plot twist, which is supposed to be all clever and unexpected, but is really the thriller equivalent of 'and it was ALL a dream' (my hatred of which discussed earlier in "Night and Day"). The film is dropped on its head, and totally fucks it up for Jennifer Lynch. It will probably be another 15 years before she's brave enough to make another film. That's fine with me.
Also, title, "Surveillance" is really not appropriate to the film. Most of it has nothing to do with being watched and it's certainly not where the plot lies.
6/10
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