Review of Southland Tales (2007) by Dayna B — 26 Aug 2009

"Southland Tales" is the sophomore effort from writer/director Richard Kelly who gave us the truly fantastic "Donnie Darko" a few years back. This is without a doubt one of the absolute best, completely nonsensical films that has ever been made.

The script is confusing and convoluted and filled with too many ideas. It lacks direction and purpose, and about a month's worth of some extremely heavy editing. It's so wacky in fact that I won't even venture to try and give you a plot synopsis, and I would fail miserably in my attempt.

At the same time though, the film looks absolutely beautiful. Every shot is an absolute work of art and some of the casting choices are so weird that they are at the same time totally inspired. John Larroquette, Christopher Lambert, John Lovitz, Nora Dunn, Wallace Shawn, Bai Ling, Kevin Smith, The Rock, Justin Timberlake, Amy Poehler, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, Seann William Scott.

..it reads like the worst casting choices since C. Thomas Howell went black face in "Soul Man," and yet, the weird casting works somehow. (Unlike the "Soul Man" fiasco.) "Southland Tales" is worth a viewing simply because it's not like anything you're going to see this year, or next year, or maybe for the rest of your life.

It's a beautifully flawed film that both monumentally succeeds and fails. It's a beautiful woman giving you a kiss, then kicking you as hard as she can in the scones.