Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Aurelio S. (A) on May 10, 2002 at 20:17:43

I'm a big fan of Tim Roth as an actor, so I've been somewhat intrigued to see his first directorial debut, The War Zone (1999).

Well, I finally got a chance to see it, and I must say, I was somewhat disappointed. The film has no redeeming qualities, save maybe, for the cinematography and Lara Belmont, who plays Jessie the sister (oh those lips!).

Set in the rural English countryside, the movie centers around Tom, a disenchanted and bored teenager, who discovers that his sexually promiscuous sister Jessie is having sexual relations with their father. After confronting her, he becomes convinced that she is an active participant in the relationship. As it turns out, that is not the case and that sets the stage for the film's conclusion.

The movie simply did nothing for me. Unlike Requiem for a Dream or Crash which seemed to have a purpose...some meaning...behind their horrific scenes; TWZ on the other hand floundered in purpose and eventually fizzled out going no where.

I've always respected Tim Roth for his selection of intelligently written and/or directed films. Little Odessa still stands as one of my all-time favorites.

But it's almost as if his only purpose with this film was to see how far he could push the envelope and nothing more.

Let's hope his next dish tastes better.

Aurelio S.