Today was pretty interesting. I went to see A History of Violence and it was bad, really bad. I don't get the rave reviews at all. The film's plot (I use that term loosely) wasn't intelligent, or creepy, or unsettling, or compelling. It was flat out slow and boring. The dialogue was absolutely flat and pointless. Even the violence (of which there wasn't much) was pretty uninspired and generally blah. I really don't see how anybody could call A History of Violence "gritty" on any level, whether it be psychological or visual. Oh, wait, there were two pretty graphic sex scenes that were supposedly full of plot-critical symbolism. However, that sort of talk is just pseudo-intellectual arthouse bullshit. Sure, on some level, oral to vaginal contact is "gritty" and rape on tiny staircase is "gritty," but in this movie it was grit without particular purpose. Like, "Okay, this guy's a brutal killer living life as a small-town family man, so let's toss in some really harsh sex for symbolism." Sex can definitely be a plot device replete with symbolic artistry, but such was not the case in this film.
However, aside from the borefest that was A History of Violence, the actual movie going experience was kind of a landmark. This is the first time I've seen a theatrical movie without either my mom or my brother. I went with somebody entirely different. So, after almost 25 years I can cross that off the list! What's next? Angry tiny staircase sex, maybe? No, of course not... it would have to be in an elevator!
Posted by Mike at October 14, 2005 09:45 PM