Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by clarkjohnsen (R) on December 01, 2007 at 23:31:29

Omigosh!

Sidney Lumet, age 80-something, turns in the most youthfully vigorous performance of his career.

Like Orson W. in CK, he employs and amplifies certain formalistic filmic devices to aesthetic ends.

Most notably the regressive (time-disjointed) editing trick -- which normally I abhor.

But here, rather than breaking the pace, it gathers the narrative momentum until we hit real time (as it were) and all that has gone before is illuminated. Never has real time seemed... so embracingly real.

What a film!

Both those who require ambiguity, and those who need the ending tied down, will be pleased.

Let's stipulate, however, that without the acting treasures present, no manipulation of devices would have produced such a result. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke transcend even themselves, and Marisa Tomei throws a couple into the mix... but Albert Finney as the Avenging Angel ultimately steals the show.

Yes, Avenging Angel. We have Bergman here.

Go. See Greek tragedy.

clark