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Reviews
Simon Killer (2012)
A killer? Maybe. A sociopath? Maybe not.
I recently saw this movie, after eagerly anticipating it for a good long while. Overall I found it so-so; whilst ranging from good to brilliant in most every technical aspect, a singificant detractor was the character of Simon. Simply put, I don't believe he is what he's described to be. The synopsis, pre-release interviews and reviews talk of a sociopath (which I appreciate is now an antiquated DSM term, but it's the one they employ so I will employ it too), but it's clear the term has been either misinterpreted or misused.
The film's eponymous 'killer' definitely has some sort of borderline or antisocial/dissocial personality disorder - his pathological lying and manipulating with no regard for others demonstrate this with crystal clarity - but to my knowledge, true sociopathy does not appear to be it. His obvious distress and pained, emotional reactions at two certain points (the part where he's discussing his ex with his mother via skype; and when he breaks down, crying for his mother, after leaving his fox pin on the left-for-dead Victoria/Noura) strike me as simply too human for a sociopath.
It's the very presence of such distress in itself that nullifies the term 'sociopath'. Longing for others, for comfort from and attachment to others, is something absent in sociopaths. Whilst they do feel certain emotions on a superficial level, and certainly can be given to acute displays of anger and aggression, sadness and need for others just does not feature. They are more than adept, however at feigning such emotions in order to manipulate others (just as Simon does), but they do not genuinely, deeply feel them, therefore would have no reason to exhibit them when alone in their most honest moments.
The term 'sociopath' has been wielded quite loosely in fiction for ages, but I would have thought intelligent writer-directors such as Antonio Campos, and actor-writers such as Brady Corbet, would be more circumspect. Hats off to them, they wrote and pulled off an interesting character who inspires the very repugnance he's designed to - that much is mission accomplished - but I do not believe he's a sociopath. And if they had simply described him simply as amoral or morally questionable, that would have sufficed; but as such, 'sociopath' is not and cannot be used as shorthand.
In conclusion, the film is definitely worth a watch, for the top notch performances and 'killer' soundtrack (pun not intended); but if you're looking for a character study of a sociopath, watch René Clémant's 'Purple Noon (Plein Soleil)' instead. In 'Simon Killer', the eponymous character exhibits certain sociopathic traits, and evidently falls somewhere in the spectrum of borderline or antisocial/dissocial personality disorders, but I would dispute whether he is a true sociopath; and as the film rests on the veracity of Simon as one, this is where it fails for me.
Evil Dead (2013)
the dead will rise.. and they will stink
Where the original had quirk and charm, the remake/reboot/based-on boasts only gore and narm. Sorely absent is the black comedic humour of the original Evil Dead, replaced in spades by cringingly poor dialogue, sentimentality, and more gore. The original was unashamedly grotesque, and fun with it. It didn't take itself all too seriously. The 2013 offering is the same, but without the redeeming features. Even the post-credits clip of Bruce Campbell as Ash falls flat.
The way the hapless characters are warned not to go near the demonic book could in fact serve as a piece of advice to moviegoers. This one should be bound in human skin and barbed wire, and buried. Permanently.
Love (2011)
a music video with an agenda
Set to instrumental versions of the songs from the eponymous album title of the band Angels & Airwaves, 'Love' could be viewed as little more than an extended music video. Beneath this stylistically heavy and visually stunning exposition, there's not a lot happening. Indeed, it's so thin on plot and action, with pacing slow enough to frustrate many people, that it feels like the entire 80 minutes could be easily condensed into a mere 4.
The thing about this film-come-extended-music-video is that, first and foremost, it is a mood piece, like its soundtrack. Some may dismiss it as pretentious or self indulgent nonsense - and who knows what the band and director intended? Perhaps the joke was indeed on the viewers? - but my personal opinion was that it intended to provoke thought and encourage viewers to reflect, to speculate, to ask questions of themselves; what does it mean to be utterly alone, both as a human being without contact to anyone else, and as an inhabitant of the only known planet with sentient life whose existence will have come and gone in the blink of an eye relatively speaking.
I think (technical errors such as non rotating spacecrafts and lack of food and hygiene aside) one of the main issues for this film is that it tries to accomplish too much, whilst giving too little. It plays like an amalgamation of 2001, Moon and the Fountain, its culminating few minutes borrowing weightily from the end of Sunshine; whilst it all looks cool, however, it throws up more questions than answers, which are great if you're in a thinking sort of mood but otherwise just prove annoying.
In conclusion, 'Love' is not a poorly made film. It carries an interesting premise, is beautifully shot and scored, but its potential is squandered by simply being too long. As a concept it works, and perhaps as an installation at an art gallery it would work; but for anyone other than die-hard fans of the avant garde it would have better been left as a music video.