Review of The Fall (2006) by Justin S — 02 Jul 2010

Tarsem's 'The Fall' is a bi-polar, surrealistic dream. Taking the reins from similarly structured films such as 'The Princess Bride' and 'Pan's Labyrinth', it sends the audience back and forth between two worlds at a pace that is still unlike anything that we've ever seen before. The two stories intertwine in grand harmony - that of the little girl (Catinca Untaru) with a broken arm befriending a crippled Hollywood stuntman (Lee Pace) with an epic fable, and that of the fable itself, which involves a band of outcasts seeking revenge on the evil Governor Odeous.

Stuntman Roy manages to keep little Alexandria interested in his story by conforming it to her imagination. Everything is not as it seems with Roy, however, and one learns quickly that he has his own reasons for spinning this tale for his pint-sized audience member. The performances of the two leads are amazing and very touching.

Shot over several years and in several countries, the landscapes and liquid paintings that Tarsem has created are among some of the most stunning visuals I have ever seen. He pulled this off in his previous work, 'The Cell', but with a much darker tone. It's such a unique surreal style that we as the audience cannot escape it. It mesmerizes you and bewilders you at the same time. Simply gorgeous.

The storyline itself was classic fairytale. It's engaging and it pays off several steps of the way through. 'The Fall' is a much more visual trip though, as opposed to its much more emotional and darker cousin, 'Pan's Labyrinth'. Does that mean it's as light-hearted as 'Princess Bride'? No - it definitely has its dark moments, its gut-checks; but never really goes all the way over.

A very recommendable, very different movie :).

(Thank you VK for putting a good part of my thoughts regarding this movie into words for me *lol*).