Cinema Crazed

2009

Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images.

Genre: Drama Thriller

Directed By: Richard Kelly

Running Time: 1:55

Review by: Momar Van Der Camp

Review Date: 12/1/09

THE BOX

There’s always something innately weird about Richard Kelly’s films and that’s always a good thing in my book. Going into the theater, you never know what to expect. And this movie was no different.

I had read the short story and seen both versions of Twilight Zones it had been in, so I thought I was ready. I wasn’t. I wasn’t at all.

It’s all strange sci-fi and wormholes and special effects and sheer insanity and it puts you on the edge of your seat trying to ask the question why and having the film open it up for you and never giving you all the answers.

And it never will. It asks more questions than it answers, and it leaves you guessing every step of the way.

And this film was made in the vein of the old 70s dramas, the old thriller movies where things happened in strange and exciting ways without needing a shitload of blood, gore, nudity or curse words. The movie just is, and it features some pretty damn good performances from Frank Langella (super-creepy), James Marsden, and surprisingly enough, Cameron Diaz.

And the ending is pretty perfect, all things considered.

Some of the moments went a little long in the tooth and I think it could have been cut by a little bit and still felt like the same movie. It dragged on in certain circumstances and showed strange edits (like when we kept getting quick cuts of Frank Langella’s headquarters), but overall, the film was decently paced.

Some people will talk about how odd it is. How it doesn’t offer explanations. But if you’re a fan of old-school thriller movies, or even a fan of Richard Kelly, this is an easy pick for you to see. Often frustrating, but overall rewarding, this has cult status written all over it.

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