Saturday, August 17, 2013
Complicit
I do not like violent films but I love this one.
David Cronenberg's
asks us to burrow inside the violence that is "necessary" here, to relish it and enjoy it.
And, at the same time, to feel and see its evil side and to realize our complicity in the process.
But that is not what goes on while I am watching this. I don't analyze. I become deeply involved in this common everyday family that must confront one member's past and another's present.
All is peace and quiet until some thugs randomly choose Tom Stall's diner for a violent heist and rape. Psychos.
Tom takes them apart.
He makes the news.
The news spreads to Philadelphia where Tom's brother is a gang kingpin. Tom's cover is blown. Years in the hiding, the bad guys come to get even with him.
Alongside Tom is his mild mannered son forced to take action when some bullies persist in harassing him. We see him respond in an appropriate way. Or is it? Or does he have no choice? Does "appropriate" have anything to do with anything? PC bullshit that ignores the realities of a world that contains evil?
Good questions.
In the meantime, a fine film with wonderful ensemble acting. Viggo Mortensen is the Dad, Maria Bello is mom, Ashton Holmes the son and young Heidi Hayes the daughter in a crucial role.
Waiting in Philadelphia is big brother John Hurt getting ready for one of the best performances we have seen from him in many years. Evil distilled.
He sends Ed Harris to retrieve Tom Stall and bring him back home. Tom had made rather a mess with Harris' eye and face. Barbed wire. Ed is still pissed off about it.
I love this film and I have to give it a decent time between viewings to simmer and for me to forget enough that it still has its edge.
But by now, I know the plot rather cold and so the edge should be gone but it is not. I admit to relishing the scenes with the thugs, the one with the son and the bullies and all the others. Reruns. I never do that.
This is a 5 out of Netflix5. We just saw Viggo yesterday. He is one heavy duty screen presence. What a great actor. And a hunk besides.
Labels: films
