Southland Tales 2007

Directed By: Richard Kelly
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Justin Timberlake, Sean William Scott, Mandy Moore, Christopher Lambert, Jon Lovitz, Abby McBride, Holmes Osbourne, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Smith

In 2001 the world of cinema was introduced to a new voice in American cinema. Not that the American’s saw it. It took the British press and strong DVD sales before the world realised that Richard Kelly, director of Donnie Darko, was a new force in cinema. His seminal work of genius, one of the greatest debut films of all time left audiences awaiting his next feature with baited breath. Then Cannes 2007 arrived Richard Kelly was preparing to show an unfinished version of his follow up Southland Tales. By the end of the film, audience members had their heads buried in their hands praying for it to stop, so reviled was the preview screening.
So, after cuts and adding the finishing touches to the visual effects, what response should we expect from Kelly’s Southland Tales. Unfortunately it’s the biggest flop of the year. Worse than any bad review of Death Proof. So what went wrong?
Well, firstly despite performances which aren’t terrible, casting The Rock, Sean William Scott and Justin Timberlake seems like a misjudgement. Secondly, the film is never quite sure what it is. Shades of Lynch pierce through the narrative, but these are not Lynchian characters.
Where scenes in Lynch’s films always seem to be building into a central theme, regardless of how confusing, in Southland Tales, there are numerous scenes which just feel redundant and farcical. As result it doesn’t so much feel like its building toward it grand finale, but rather that it’s the ramblings of a genius unable to filter his ideas.
Set in 2009, the film takes place after a Nuclear attack, which has critically threatened fossil fuels, whilst an insane scientist, offers the answer by harnessing the power of the sea. This is all well and good, but the film doesn’t feel like science fiction and there are certainly not enough indicators, bar the opening introductory animated scenes, which hint at the effect this is having on society. There is also a subplot involving a secret underground group, who are trying to undermine the government. Add to this The Rock as an actor who has written a screenplay and is suffering from a form of schizophrenia and you some way to explaining the plot.
The film ends with a similar theme to Donnie Darko but the journey is nowhere near as enjoyable. Gellar, Johnson (The Rock) and Scott all feel miscast, and Justin Timberlake lacks the dramatic weight both to convince in the voiceover or his role. It feels like watching Timberlake on screen rather than a character. As for the supporting cast, again none of them seem comfortable in their roles, and for some you wonder what led them to take the role.
Ultimately though I left the cinema feeling truly disappointed. Too much of the story feels irrelevant, superfluous and down right silly. Not only this, the films look isn’t particularly eye catching.
There may be some which herald this as a masterpiece. At one stage even I was thinking that maybe everyone is just missing the point and one day people will look back, as they did with say, Blade Runner, or even 2001. But ultimately the film lacks the cohesive surreal quality of say INLAND EMPIRE and as such is a failure. A monumental failure which is almost worth watching just because of that fact.