To rise and then "Fall"
Story starts off good, slides into disappointment
Scott Hansen
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Scene
There are two possible interpretations of the opening scene of "The Fall." First, it could be seen as void of sound, visually appealing and rather drawn out in order to pay homage to the silent film business of which the film surrounds. Another could possibly be to set the viewer up and make them understand the rest of the movie will rely more heavily on visuals than anything and the dialogue and overall story are not the most important things. I would take the latter.
It's 1915 in a Los Angeles hospital where top Hollywood stuntman Roy Walker is for the most part shut in after being paralyzed from the waist down following a botched stunt. He befriends a sassy little girl with a broken arm, Alexandria, and begins to make up and tell her an elaborate story in order to pass the time and to bring him closer to someone other than his fellow roommates. Alexandria, though, soon becomes caught up in the tale and starts mixing fiction with reality.
The film has numerous scenes that are simply breathtaking in their beauty. Allegedly no visual effects were used in the making of the film, but I choose to disbelieve that. Regardless, they have a purpose and serve as a way to put adults into a child like vision and perspective that often times can be difficult.
But the film's best feature is the exchange of words between Roy, played by "Pushing Daisies" star Lee Pace, and Alexandria, played by Catinca Untaru. In many instances the dialogue and interaction feels so real that it doesn't seem like an outside possibility that Untaru showed up on the set and had not read the script or even knew what was going on. This however is effective in making it seem like she isn't acting, and with the chemistry between the two being so strong, it truly ranks up there with some of the best child/adult actor interactions that has been put on screen in the past decade.
Until the last 20 minutes of the film however, it lacks any suspense or real tension. Scenes that could be further developed into something of that sort are quickly shoved aside to get back to the story, which may be what Alexandria wants, but as viewers we don't. Only so many breathtaking visuals can be seen before it becomes overdone. And once the film drastically changes its tone from happy and uplifting to just depressing overall, the realization occurs that it offers really nothing to take away and just is providing the opportunity to be in awe at some amazing images for about an hour long period. Perhaps "The Fall" and its tone change is where the makers of "Hancock" got the idea for theirs?
"The Fall" is an impressive piece of work visually and when taking into account how a flawless connection was made between its main stars. However, when the two stars don't have much to work with in terms of story, and the film doesn't offer much else other than those two things, it isn't necessarily a piece of art as I think the filmmakers would have you believe. A waste of time it is not, but those expecting any real story will be sorely disappointed while those looking to be visually pleased will be elated at the film's magnificent artistic expression.
It's 1915 in a Los Angeles hospital where top Hollywood stuntman Roy Walker is for the most part shut in after being paralyzed from the waist down following a botched stunt. He befriends a sassy little girl with a broken arm, Alexandria, and begins to make up and tell her an elaborate story in order to pass the time and to bring him closer to someone other than his fellow roommates. Alexandria, though, soon becomes caught up in the tale and starts mixing fiction with reality.
The film has numerous scenes that are simply breathtaking in their beauty. Allegedly no visual effects were used in the making of the film, but I choose to disbelieve that. Regardless, they have a purpose and serve as a way to put adults into a child like vision and perspective that often times can be difficult.
But the film's best feature is the exchange of words between Roy, played by "Pushing Daisies" star Lee Pace, and Alexandria, played by Catinca Untaru. In many instances the dialogue and interaction feels so real that it doesn't seem like an outside possibility that Untaru showed up on the set and had not read the script or even knew what was going on. This however is effective in making it seem like she isn't acting, and with the chemistry between the two being so strong, it truly ranks up there with some of the best child/adult actor interactions that has been put on screen in the past decade.
Until the last 20 minutes of the film however, it lacks any suspense or real tension. Scenes that could be further developed into something of that sort are quickly shoved aside to get back to the story, which may be what Alexandria wants, but as viewers we don't. Only so many breathtaking visuals can be seen before it becomes overdone. And once the film drastically changes its tone from happy and uplifting to just depressing overall, the realization occurs that it offers really nothing to take away and just is providing the opportunity to be in awe at some amazing images for about an hour long period. Perhaps "The Fall" and its tone change is where the makers of "Hancock" got the idea for theirs?
"The Fall" is an impressive piece of work visually and when taking into account how a flawless connection was made between its main stars. However, when the two stars don't have much to work with in terms of story, and the film doesn't offer much else other than those two things, it isn't necessarily a piece of art as I think the filmmakers would have you believe. A waste of time it is not, but those expecting any real story will be sorely disappointed while those looking to be visually pleased will be elated at the film's magnificent artistic expression.
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