28/01/2012: Surveillance [2008]

"You probably read the end of a book first, don't you? "
"Yeah. "
"That is no way to live."

Surveillance is a film by Jennifer Lynch the daughter of David Lynch. This being so, her father has set the bar extremely high, having given us Mulholland Dr., Eraserhead, Twin Peaks and Lost Highway. However the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and Jennifer Lynch proves it with Surveillance.

It is not hard to see the similarities and inspirations of her father in Surveillance, however, unlike the oddities and insanities David Lynch provided Surveillance is much more traditionally structured film.
It possess Lynchian qualities in it's characters, dialogue and twistedness, which all in all make up most of the movie. The movie centers on a pair of FBI agents who come to a small middle of nowhere police station to investigate a pair of murderers terrorizing the coutryside. The agent set up their camera's and together with the local police interview the three witnesses from the latest crime scene.

Of course all of them have differing stories as they cover up for themselves and their actions. However the movie plays out the accident as it goes showing you what really happened and giving you the pieces to put the puzzle together. Unfortunately I figured out the puzzle pretty early on, but this didn't subtract at all from my enjoyment of the movie. It is truly the characters, and their actions and interactions that make this movie great. The witnesses make up only part of the cast, with the local cops, FBI agents and the murderers all presenting just as much and just as interesting characters.

I think that the dynamic of the murderers is my favourite and I rather enjoy the ending of the movie. The setting of Saskatchewan's prairies (where you can watch your dog run away for days) is a stark contrast to the brutality of the movie and the cramped interview rooms. The cast is an interesting mix of a few comedians, giving a great dark comedy but also some stellar and serious performances. I don't want to ruin much, but if your looking for a great violent and bloody murder mystery, or are a fan of David Lynch I recommend checking this out.

Trying to think of some kinda rating system/symbol. More original than just star. Any ideas leave a comment.

Links:
Surveillance IMDB
Surveillance Netflix

22/01/2012: The Minus Man [1999]

So I think this is the first time I have ever seen Owen Wilson in a movie that is not a comedy and playing a serious character. The Minus Man stars Owen Wilson as a serial killer.

Now you're thinking, Ok, so instead of a comedian Wilson is a brutal murderer. However The Minus Man is nothing of the sort. It is a rather a deep and interesting psychological thriller and somewhat of a character study. Vann (Wilson) is the character you feel for and want to understand, not some monster you wait to get caught. This movie is all about the interaction between the character. Not about police chases or murders.

Wilson give us a great performance along with a great cast, to tell a story that your not sure how it will turn out. The Minus Man is not everyone's movie, you need to be in the mood to watch it. It is not an action filled and violent movie about a serial killer but instead a psychological character study about Vann and why he is the way he is. He is portrayed very well, and the movie shows how he interacts with the world having no emotions.

I would recommend this if you are a psychology student or a fan of slow burn serial killer studies. That is really a small group I would think. The movie is not un-enjoyable and is very well done, it is just not something everyone would watch.

Links:
The Minus Man IMDB
The Minus Man Netflix