DVD Movie Review - Enemy

Strap on your thinking caps, dust off your forensic kit, and find yourself a Sherlock Holmes pipe and magnifying glass, because Enemy is the type of film that requires a Batman sense of detection and scene by scene analysis.

STORY:

Adam (Jake Gyllenhaal), a frustrated teacher, spends his days rambling on about dictatorships and his nights having mundane sex with his girlfriend, Mary (Melanie Laurent).  And then Adam's life takes a turn for the worse when he watches a film recommended by a co-worker.  In that film is an actor named Anthony (also Jake Gyllenhaal) that looks exactly like him.  Behind everyone's back and against his better judgment, Adam decides to seek out Anthony in hope of discovering some answers.  Loud ominous drums, freaky sex clubs, coincidences, unfaithful husbands, worried wives, and humongous frigging spiders ensue.

"Hey...hey, Pal, it's alright.  I'm not gonna hurt ya.  I just wanted to say how damn good-looking you are."

THOUGHTS:

The majority of film enthusiasts will see Enemy in two ways.  Either as a complete masterpiece of cinema or…utter garbage.  But no matter what description you land on, you won't be able to deny how beautifully the movie is shot.  The film partners Gyllenhaal, once again with Prisoners' director, Denis Villeneuve.  If you enjoyed his use of natural light or noir framing in Prisoners, then you'll enjoy the same magic here in Enemy. 

Jake Gyllenhaal delivers masterful acting for both Adam and Anthony.  And when the film switches perspective between them, you'll get the feeling they're two completely different people.  Melanie Laurent, sadly, is underused in the film as just a sex toy.  You'll either find her yawning out of boredom or rolling between the sheets.  Sarah Gadon, who portrays Anthony's pregnant wife, Helen, displays fantastic emotions.  Her talent helps add depth and suspense to the somewhat confusing plot, but oddly, a fair amount of her scenes seem to involve dressing and undressing in front of the camera.  Isabella Rossellini pops in for a few voice messages along with a quick dinner scene, and a couple of hairy tarantulas stop by to make the viewer scratch their head.

Now you're probably thinking, "With great acting and beautiful cinematography, why would anyone think this is total garbage?"  Well, it comes down to personal preference.

Cut!  Dammit, Melanie.  You're supposed to look tired, not actually be tired.  Look at Jake, he

really looks like he's sleeping.  Jake, show her what I'm talking about.  Jake?  Jake?

IS THIS YOUR TYPE OF FILM?

Do you like your protagonist to have a one-track mind that's only looking to dispose of the bad guy and kill whatever happens to get in his way?  Do you enjoy films with silly plots and wild humor involving genitals, masturbation, or farts?  And above all, do you like your films to easily make sense after the credits roll?  Well…if you answered yes to any or all of those questions, then you should run as fast as you can in the opposite direction of Enemy.  This film requires a crap ton of analyzing and probably several viewings to nail down what the hell is going on.  It's also a very slow crawl with little dialogue up until Adam and Anthony finally meet, which happens about an hour into the film.  And if you're not the type of person with the patience for slow movies or ones that require a decoder ring, then go ahead and pop in The Notebook or Die Hard for the thousandth time, because no one in their right mind will blame you for just wanting to enjoy a movie.  Now, if you do want to turn this film into a science project, then hit play on Enemy and then grab a pencil and paper, because you may need to take a few notes.  But before settling down for a confusing tale, that will leave your mouth agape after the last scene, read the next section.  It'll include mild spoilers, but hopefully they'll prevent you from throwing your drink at the screen in disgust.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it anymore, okay?  So I like unicorns and faeries.  And having a

sexual fantasy including both is NOT a big deal."

WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND WTF?  SPIDERS?

This movie is riddled with such heavy symbolism, you'll wonder if it should just be viewed as a series of still slides over a projector, instead of moving pictures with sound and dialogue.  But fear not, P&P is here to guide you through the film's symbolic mess.

Usually in a movie, the first couple of minutes are light on story, enabling the viewer to settle their fingers into greasy popcorn and relieve some of the day's stresses.  But not here.  Nope.  Before the movie even begins, you'll hear a recorded message from Adam's mother and see a phrase pop up on the screen.  Pay attention to both, because women (including his mom) and how they're perceived by Adam play a large part in understanding the film's bigger theme.  And once Adam does come into view, pay attention to his references on patterns and what can happen to them.  Also…pay close attention to how Anthony's pregnant wife acts and how sad she becomes after meeting Adam for the first time.  Oh, and if it hasn't been mentioned already, pay attention…preferably to everything, especially the spiders and their webs.

Ah, yes, what about those spiders?  There are theories all over the Internet about what the spiders are and why they're included in the film.  Do not pay any attention to the jokers talking about aliens and body snatchers.  If you want a laugh, then by all means, read away.  But for the sake of sanity once the credits roll, the spiders—like everything else in the film—are just more symbols.  They have an underlining meaning to Adam and Anthony.  Now, you'll have to figure that out on your own, because we're not here to completely ruin your experience, only to guide you.  But remember, movies along with any art, is left for individual interpretation.  And this film leaves a whole heck of a lot to interpret.  You might even jump on the alien body snatcher bandwagon.  Hey…to each his own, right?

"I have no idea what this movie is about, but I'm in it.  And I will collect a paycheck even if it kills me."

CONCLUSION:

For some, Enemy will be a film that's too weighted down by symbolism with not enough story to fill in the gaps.  The scenes are shot beautifully.  The actors/actresses are wonderful.  But a slow plot and too much analysis, could take the entertainment right out of the experience.  Are you the type that enjoys a film that can be perceived from different angles and studied until your brain falls out?  Then Enemy will become one of your favorite movies.  If you would much rather have a movie entertain you with humor and action, then be prepared to slap anyone and everyone that recommends Enemy.  But no matter which type of movie-goer you are, one thing is for sure.  The last scene of this film will stick inside your head for a very, very long time.  Oh and if you have even the slightest form of arachnophobia…forget you even heard of this movie or read this review.  For realsies.

3 out of 5 Stars (add one star for the premise, the acting, and the cinematography)

DVD Movie Review - Prisoners

Prisoners is the type of movie that will make your ass cheeks crawl to the edge of your seat.  With a firm grasp on suspense and tragedy, it's a film you won't stop thinking about.

STORY:

Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) a simple contractor trying to make ends meet, lives his life by always being prepared.  When his young daughter and the daughter of his good friend, Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard), go missing, anger and desperation take over his life and the lives around him.  Sadness, torture, despair, affection, and survival ensue.

Due to Hugh's overwhelming sex-appeal, most women in the audience who rubbed against him,

didn't shower for days. 

THOUGHTS:

Prisoners is a fantastic film.  Climbing just over two and a half hours, the movie will breeze by, keeping you guessing and holding your breath until the end.  Not only is the story, dialogue, plot and tone of the film well executed, but the acting—whether from Jackman or anyone else in the cast—is tremendous.

But don't let the above words inspire you to run out and rent this film, because the premise isn't for everyone.  The subject of child abduction is hard to swallow no matter who you are, but being a parent will probably drop you into two categories: People that will relate to the anger and desperation exhaled by the main characters, and people who won't be able to stomach the movie at all.  If you have no problem watching a film that shows graphic torture scenes and people breaking down in the face of terrible tragedy, then Prisoners will keep you tense until the climax.

This movie contains psychopaths, the mentally disturbed, blood, victims, killers, abductions, and true life situations.  And it doesn't fear asking the tough questions and/or presenting the terrible consequences about any of the above.  What would you do if your child was taken?  What lengths would you go to get them back?  Can a strong family remain civil facing these circumstances?  And how much does this type of crime affect the law enforcement?  All these questions and more are presented through fantastic performances from the cast.

"Whoa, whoa...whoa!  Just because you're angry with me, doesn't mean you have the 

right to bring up the Prince of Persia."

Hugh Jackman, a.k.a. The Wolverine, shows you he's not just some adamantium-clawed one-trick pony.  Jackman is the film.  Hugh portrays Dover as a man who spends all his free time gathering provisions, and reciting a mantra throughout the story: "prepare for the worst, pray for the best."  But his calm loving husband/father disposition, deteriorates when his daughter disappears.  You'll see Jackman's character go through the gauntlet of emotions, ranging from sadness, to anger, and then to utter collapse.  And his added facial expressions and body language make you feel every mental state.

Jake Gyllenhaal is the other side to the movie, portraying the over-worked, desperate, Detective Loki, who's attempting to use everything in his power to find the little girls that have been abducted.  The movie makes you realize that cops or any law enforcement, have to remain neutral when working a case and must rely on facts.  But sometimes a case can push a person to the brink and Gyllenhaal holds nothing back in his performance.  He has a scene where he completely breaks down in front of the men in his precinct and it's something you'll never forget.

Paul Dano, who plays the accused child abductor Alex Jones, is another actor that shows remarkable skill in his role.  His scenes may be the ones some people opt to cover their eyes, but these parts hold the most remarkable acting in the film.  But let's not down play the rest of the cast who have minor, yet memorable moments:  Terrence Howard (Franklin Birch) is the heart broken father with a conscious.  Maria Bello (Grace Dover) plays the depressed wife and hysterical mother, while Viola Davis (Nancy Birch) represents the caring, yet stern matriarch in the face of tragedy.

"Cut!  Mr. Jackman, can we please do the scene one more time, WITHOUT you pretending 

to go into Berserker Rage."

MOTIVE:

The main characters all have the perfect motives for their emotions and decisions throughout the film.  But where motive really counts—the reason for the whole plot that's taking place—is where the writing falters somewhat.  And just a few lines of dialogue don't really help solve one of the major plot questions.  Does this hurt the film?  Not really, because the story is more about people trying to muscle through pain and their reactions to tragedy, rather than the abduction plot that's seems to fall on the back burner. 

EDITING:

There are a couple of scenes that don't finish on camera and instead just cut to black.  Whether this is due to the already long running time or intentional, it seems a little unnecessary.  You can fill in the blanks, but it would have been nice to see how the actors handled each of those situations.  And sometimes it's a climax that the movie decides to let you play out in your mind.  The cuts may feel a little cheap, but nevertheless, don't really take away from the story as a whole.

SUSPENSE:

There will be questions lingering around your mind the entire time you're watching this film.  And for each one, you'll never truly know if they'll be answered.  Prisoners uses this unpredictability to push the envelope and up the stakes as plot progresses.  This film becomes one of those stories that you'll retrace in your mind as soon as it's over, attempting to piece it all together by following the subtle clues.

"Man, these parents asking for Pee-Wee Soccer money...do not stop.  

Time to roll up the old window."

CONCLUSION:

Prisoners is without a doubt, a non-miss film for movie-goers who can handle it.  Heinous crimes and their terrible outcomes are played out in suspenseful fashion, using a superb cast to hold it all together.  It may be a tough pill to swallow, but if you're able to watch Prisoners, you'll see some of the best acting this year.  Sorry gents, if date night comes down to this or The Notebook (again), you might be in a tiny bit of trouble.

4 out of 5 stars (minus a star for slight miscalculations in motives and editing)