Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by dave c (A) on August 07, 2008 at 01:04:52

THhis is the third film I have sen in 4 days and the best I think.
For Mamet it isn't dialogue dense but does have a multilayered story. Almost House Of Games! The script is more like the illusion of life than anything I have seen for ages. Not "real" but as Jagger said of the recent Stones' concert film, it's not just putting cameras in front of the stage but giving the IMPRESSION of being there whilst adding something more.
And it's tense, very tense indeed.
Concerning a teacher of martial arts whose world falls apart and who has to leave his somewhat smug comfort zone to do what is "right", it deals with honour and the surface reality of life, wheels within wheels and "the man who squats behind the man who works the soft machine" as it was once put.
Just one mention, of Tim Allen (yes, of Home Improvement fame) as an aging action film hero. Very good!
The ending is a bit predictable and bit too neat (as I seem to find a lot of films and books these days), but nevertheless a very good watch.
90% of this film makes 90% of everything else look like the work of rank amateurs.
Mamet may not make many films, but you can go and see all of them and not be disappointed.
Well, I can.