Review of Kontroll (2003) by David H — 22 Feb 2005

Kept the film festival thing going this weekend with more from the Portland International Film Festival. Saw Old Boy, AGAIN, and I'm really starting to understand its deeper meaning (I should after 6 viewings). I see Woo-Jin as God, and Dae-Su as mortal without free will. I've been comparing the movie to Titus Andronicus, but I'm really thinking it's more Oedipus, thumbing his nose at the gods and paying the price. I hope in 1600 years, classrooms are studying this film.

Kontroll lived up to its hype. Its beautifully shot, and deals with some of the same concepts as Oldboy - even has an angel - only this time, humanity must get beyond its own demons to enter heaven. It's literally a battle for one mans soul being fought out in the dark tunnels of the subway between the angelic Teddy Bear Girl and the spectral Pusher. It references many of my favorite films films - Quatermass and the Pit, Brazil (the coffee is called t42!), Repo Man, and maybe a little Fight Club - depends on how you read the film. The film is often very funny and stylish. The editing and cinematography make Kontroll look extremely slick and the use of some wonderful subterranean locations give the film an other-worldly quality. The Run Lola Run-esquire techno score by the band NEO helps to give the film the breakneck pace of a speeding train, especially in several heart-stopping chase sequences. If the film runs out of steam towards the end and the final scene is rather predictable and cliché'd then these can probably be forgiven considering that its the filmmaker's debut feature. Without doubt a talent to watch and, possibly, the first international cult film from Hungary.

Inside Deep Throat was fun. I now know that Linda Lovelace had a cat called Adolf Hitler, and that Regal cinemas likes to advertise G rated films in front of the doc on the seminal porn flick. Maybe the strangest recommendation that I have ever made is going to come here because this is a documentary that all young porn starlets should see. Many (if not most) of todays porn actresses have no idea what "Deep Throat" is or of the people that were involved and it would probably enlighten them and make them see that what went on helped open doors to their profession. It distresses me that porn today lacks the depth of the golden age. It's all about masturbation and corporate greed now.

5x2, is Ozon's least impressive film to date. It had none of the flair or passion of his other films, but I think that was the point. The leads were ordinary, with ordinary faults and desires, but I really got the feeling he just went through the motions on this one. I even saw a boom mike.

Rear Window tonight! First time for me in the theatre!