Review of Exotica (1994) by Michael T — 06 Nov 2004

[b]EXOTICA [/b](Egoyan, 1994).

Hypnotic. Haunting. Chilling. Spellbinding. Brilliant.

These are the words I now associate with Atom Egoyan's films. For me to use any of these words in referencing other films, they will be tested against a bar that [i]The Sweet Hereafter [/i]and [i]Exotica [/i]have set. I am now convinced that Egoyan is an unheralded genius and that [i]Exotica [/i]is probably the most underappreciated film from the last decade.

[i]Exotica [/i]just might have the most perfect integration of sight, sound, and story I have ever experienced. The cinematography is beautiful, the music and use of sound effects are powerfully effective, and the multi-plot story is simply remarkable. Add to that a wonderful cast who turn in marvelous performances and you have a film that is practically flawless.

I didn't think Egoyan could top the masterpiece that was [i]The Sweet Hereafter[/i], but I believe he has done it. [i]Exotica [/i]shares many of the same wonderful traits as his '97 film, but I believe it has a more hypnotic atmosphere and a much more powerful ending. [i]Exotica's [/i]ending literally had my jaw on the ground, and I am still thinking about it now almost 24 hours later. I cannot remember the last film that had this kind of impact on me after one viewing. [i]Exotica [/i]is truly an amazing film and has immediately become one of my all-time favorites.

[b]RATING: [/b]****.

[b]AMARCORD [/b](Fellini, 1973).

I don't even know why I bother. Fellini showed me with [i]8 1/2 [/i]and [i]Night of Cabiria [/i]that plot is really the last of his concerns. [i]Amarcord [/i]goes much further than those previous two films in that regard. I don't know if I've ever seen a film with such a blatant disregard for forming any kind of cohesive story. I won't go too deeply on this film as I have already wasted 127 minutes of my life on it. I will just say that I was completely bored for just about every second that this film went on. The only positive thing to come out of this experience is coming to the realization that I have a very strong will as I continually fought off the urge to turn it off and made it to the very end.

I just want to add that Fellini fans will likely eat this stuff up, and I encourage them to see it. For anyone that has been more than turned off by other Fellini efforts, avoid this film like the plague.

[b]RATING: [/b]*1/2.