Review of Gunner Palace (2004) by Nick M — 13 Mar 2005

MOOD: Critical.

Oh, I was a bit bored so I changed the title of my journal. Do you dig the alliteration?

[b][i]Nights of Cabiria[/i][/b]: Cabiria, whom is short in stature but high in temper, has decided that she isn't going to let people take advantage of her like she has in the past. Her line of work, prostitution, doesn't leave her much room for independence, however. Aptly dressed in a prison-like black and white outfit, Cabiria embarks and eventually suffers on a series of religious, devastating, cathartic and hypnotizing (literally) endevors. Some of Fellini's common motifs are unsurprisingly present (such as the "aging woman" and the holy and graceful Madonna). Masina (Fellini's wife) gives a brillaint performance full of stubborness, comedy and insanity. It might become one of my favorite female performances of all time.

The first half of [b][i]Gunner Palace[/i][/b] is too preoccupied with making fools out of the soldiers. Then the second half has the audacity to derive sympathy from these same men and women serving in the army. Well, at least ATTEMPT to elicit pathos -- in which it is unsuccessful. We are presented the mistakes of the army, but we aren't given the context in most cases. Low on information and high on lowbrow jokes. Almost as much of an unfocused mess as the war is.

The poignant and nuanced [b][i]Nobody Knows[/i][/b] is filled with deeply moving moments and touching performances given by its precocious cast. However, this pensive film is unwilling to compromise its subtlety for plausibility. It is an introspective yet too slowly paced reflection on innocence -- actually, quite an odd coming of age story.

[b][i]The Door in the Floor[/i][/b] was easy enough to watch, and never insulting, comical or crude in handling such dark and salacious themes. I would have preferred if it had attempted to go a bit deeper into characters though. Jeff Bridges comfortably gives one of the most underrated male performances of the year (it seems there were quite a few of these), as he balances the somewhat unever character he is given. Kim Basinger acts like a middle-age piece of wood as she is constantly poked by young wood. It was also quite evident that this was adapted from previously written material since sections seemed more literate than cinematic. However, the scenes which were obviously made to be more cinematic make for the most bland moments in the film. Bridges tells a young character in the film, "but you don't have an imagination". Concerning the handling of the last act, I would like to say the same thing to the second-time director. It might have an eye for detail, but the film itself lacks an imagination.

I just couldn't help but be simultaneously unimpressed and uninterested in [b][i]Raging Bull[/i][/b] at times. I realize it isn't supposed to exactly be an enjoyable film, but all the characters besides La Motta (who happens to be a huge prick) were fairly underdeveloped and the only one I cared a semblence for was Pesci. Luckily, DeNiro's performance of the stubborn, paranoid and perpetually jealous La Motta is nothing short of electrifying. The inconsistent pacing could have to do with the switches from boxing (deftly edited -- some quick-cutting moments made it look like La Motta was fighting himself) to inner human affliction. I understand what Scorsese was trying to accomplish, but in the end, I didn't find it that redemptive or powerful. I admire the attempt, but I was unfortunately underwhelmed.

I'm heading home after a somewhat satisfying, but rather uneventful, Spring Break. There was a family party yesterday and I was robbed of ten dollars by my scheming cousin. That 11 year old poker hustler. I'm blaming that fat man who teaches every child poker strategies on the 'World Series of Poker' show on ESPN (well -- except me, of course). Fortunately, I escaped the victor in the Trivial Pursuits game (where my grandma accidentally said "Jay Leno" instead of the intended "yellow" a few times) and a couple games of Pitch (a card game similar to Spades that has become a tradition in my family).

Anyway, catch you fools later.