Film Reviews

Southland Tales

• Rating:
• Director: Richard Kelly
• Starring: Dwayne Johnston
• Details: Germany / USA / 160mins (16)

Set in a futuristic-looking Los Angeles in 2008 as it stands on the brink of apocalyptic disaster, Southland Tales centres on Boxer Santaros (Johnston) an action star with a bout of amnesia, whose life intertwines with Krysta Now (Gellar), a determined porn star developing her own reality television project. We also meet Ronald Taverner (Scott), a police officer who may hold the key to an immeasurable conspiracy involving a militant rebel organisation, the American government, and the end of the world. These guys are the nucleus of an infinitely perplexing plot that involves an abundance of quirky characters and bizarre goings-on. Directed by Richard Kelly, who made a stunning debut six years ago with Donnie Darko, Southland was delayed after an unfinished cut screened during the Cannes Film Festival and was widely abused by the amassed critics, who quite simply did not know what to make of it. Kelly has crafted a staggeringly ambitious piece of work that exudes an intelligence and ability far beyond my feeble brain. But, as a film designed to entertain and stimulate, it falls considerably short of not just his debut, but of a much-needed narrative lucidity that engages us as an audience. The problems here are vast and frustrating, but even when scratching your head in confusion, or frowning at another seemingly redundant character, you can almost feel the profusion of ideas dying to rear their heads long enough for you to grasp them. Kelly has raw talent like no other director of his generation, that much is plainly clear; but he needs to evolve into a director with a sense of control and focus, as large parts of this bang of over-indulgence. I have no doubt that Kelly will make other great films - but Southland Tales is never anything more than a beautiful mess.

Review by Mike Sheridan