All those surprise Oscar nominations for this? Really?
It's been called amoral by its detractors, and while they probably have a point, it's hard to get too outraged over a film that doesn't put anything over; not the story, not the characters, not the direction, not the cinematography. Oh, it's not bad; sure, there's energy; but all the split-screens, freeze-frames, and 360º camera movements feel oh-so-nineties to me. Did Meirelles not trust the material? Is it all just a two-hour calling card? Did they just make up shit as they went along?
It's a shame, too, because there was potential here. There are a number of interesting threads (the massacre at the whorehouse, Li'l Ze's voodoo amulet: "You mustn't fornicate while wearing it") that are dropped. When something truly interesting happens -- Rocket is set up to be the personal photographer of the sociopathic Li'l Ze -- the movie is pretty much over. Fine, Meirelles; you don't want to write that movie, maybe I will.
Ultimately, Meirelles is so enamored of his stylistic affectations, that the story becomes a series of anecdotes, a series of shrugs, really, and his actors are reduced from characters to just bodies in front of the camera. He makes Guy Ritchie look like Wes Anderson.
Where we saw it: film | We deign to rate it: outta 100I would agree with this analysis. I think City of God was Meirelles's attempt to make Hollywood notice him. And, it worked. He's in pre-production of a big budget thriller right now.
Posted by: Scott at February 29, 2004 06:56 AMSorry, it's The Constant Gardener (http://imdb.com/title/tt0387131/)
Posted by: Scott at February 29, 2004 06:57 AMIt is worth noting that, to MANY people, Meirelles STOLE this film from his co-director (Katia Lund) whose 1999 documentary (NEWS FROM A PRIVATE WAR) is strikingly similar. Although Meirelles didn't release the film with any co-directing credits, many organizations credit Lund as a co-director. Many also suggest that the sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing directing style that Kent cites was the only thing that Meirelles brought to the film. Funny that... if you make it look shiny, regardless of how you did so, hollywood will reward you.
Lost in Translation anyone???
Posted by: Mary Agnes at March 14, 2004 04:00 AMHey everybody, it's Mary, He Loved Him Some Movie's Official UK Correspondent! Hi Mary!
I had heard a little about this Katia Lund situation, but I wasn't really clear on the story. Good to hear more about it. I'd love to see her documentary and compare the two. My first thought is that a sober documentary approach might be better for this material than what Meirelles did.
Take care, Mary, and visit again soon!
Posted by: Kza at March 15, 2004 04:08 PM