This is the way the world ends: not with a whimper, but with a bang.Background: This is the sophomore effort for writer-director Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko); a sci-fi drama set in the aftermath of twin nuclear attacks, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seann William Scott, Miranda Richardson, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Smith, Wallace Shawn and Justin Timberlake.
Southland Tales has had a torturous development. It was supposed to start filming in 2004, but that slipped to 2005. Then the film received a critical mauling at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, with audiences declaring it an impenetrable mess of confusion. Kelly has spent the past year re-editing the film, which will be released in the US on 9 November 2007 -- 2 1/2 years after shooting began!
Review: I have a little more perspective on this trailer, as I've been following Tales' gestation since Kelly started filming, but even I can't get a handle on the imagery here. It seems to be a beautifully-filmed concoction, filled with arresting imagery, some crazy casting decisions and an underlying hint of a twisted end-of-the-world theme. The trailer doesn't really give you much information or clarity, but it's gorgeous to look at and does a great job of keeping your attention.
Prediction: It's easy to suggest Southland Tales is destined to be a big box-office turkey, given its history and initial reports from Cannes in 2006. But... perhaps Kelly has managed the near-impossible and re-cut the film into something special...
It certainly looks very cool, and I'm eager to see it for myself. Also try and remember that some of the best science fiction films endured difficult births -- like Terry Gilliam's Brazil. I have a suspicion this will do low-to-middling business with the general public, given its crazy style and odd vibe, but should hopefully become a cult classic. Who knows, if it's staggeringly brilliant (albeit, a required taste), strong word-of-mouth might bring this to a wider cinema audience.
HD 480P (50 MB)
HD 720P (125 MB)
HD 108P (177 MB)
(Please note: to play these files, download and rename them to "whatever-you-want.mov")
