Review of The Fall (2006) by Tyler M — 31 Mar 2012

I don't know what to think of this film. I was so excited to see it and when I set my eyes on it once and for all I was a little surprised. Not surprised in a good way, but not surprised in a bad way... Just surprised.

The story revolves around a not so likable hero and a lovable little girl in a hospital in the 1920's.

Our hero, an injured, paralyzed actor, meets a young girl by chance, while being laid up in bed. He offers to tell her an epic story of love and revenge, in return she must get him his "medicine". Without going into more detail and risk spoiling it I'll hold off on any more of a description.

The story moves at a quick pace, going back and forth from hospital to exotic locales. It's a great narrative, the problem lies with it's inherent lack of cohesiveness. The characters in the story he tells move from one place to another with little to no explanation. It's a bit of a surrealist film, so it's a little more forgivable in the way it moves... But still you can't help be feel a little disconnected from the heroes, and might just find yourself sitting through the narrative to see what happens in the real world.

Though the story within the story lacks depth, it certainly makes up for it with a beautiful art style. The vibrant colors, the gorgeous set pieces, the elaborate costumes all make it at least entertaining to watch. Unfortunately, it falls apart at the end as it becomes even more scattered and rushed. It almost feels like 90 minutes into it, the film was written into a corner and no one knew how get out of it. The somewhat anti-climactic ending was a little disappointing, and even a little hard to overlook.

Like the rest of the film though, the acting falls prey to the same problems as I mentioned before. The narrative is great, and Lee Pace does an outstanding job as Roy Walker, but not so much is outstanding when you're watching him as "The Blue Bandit". In the real world of the film every line is recited with accuracy and emotion, in the story it's all cheesy dialog and cliche phrases. Though it's arguable that it's meant to be that way, it can still be frustrating to listen to. The same goes for the incredibly talented Catinca Untaru. An AMAZING child actor, plays the part with grace and finesse as you follow her adventure through the hospital... Not so much once she appears in the fantasy portion of the story.

All in all it's an entertaining film, well worth watching, though I think it's bound to be a love it or hate it film.

It starts off great, the style is superb the sets are engrossing, half of the story is truly captivating (though not the half that's really meant to be), and half the acting is top notch.