Review of Funny Games (1997) by Miles H — 28 Mar 2008

Breaking the fourth wall and doing it well is extremely hard to pull off, and for the most part, I think Haneke manages it nicely. Still, this is a case of a movie in which I like the idea more than the execution.

What Haneke seems to be trying to do is make his own "Salo", no doubt in response to the alarming popularity of sadistic violence in mainstream entertainment. But while "Salo" had a consistently interesting and gripping story, "Funny Games" slowly becomes something we've seen many times before, and even feels rather generic at times.

Of course, the point is to highlight our own sick condition for enjoying such traditions. In that case, then what we have isn't so much a movie but a cinematic lecture. Fair enough, but I wish Haneke could have found a way to keep the story more engaging way to tell the second half of the film.

For instance, there's an absolutely brilliant scene involving eggs near the beginning of the movie that works because of what it suggests for future plot developments. Unfortunately, that's it.

The rest is more of an exercise, and at times, it starts to feel pompous, which is just what will drive a lot of people away. I still think Haneke is a great and very interesting filmmaker, and I'll see anything he makes, but I feel that this is one of his weaker works.

It's too bad he remade it. He could've done something much more powerful...