"Is
this... wait... Is this the way we came?"
This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the
strangest cinematic experiences I, or anyone
else, will ever have. 'Gerry' is is one of the
most relentlessly gutsy and stubbornly poetic
films ever made. The film abandons all
preconceived notions of dramatic arc or
narrative storytelling in favor of a hypnotic
and mesmerizing meditation on the nature of
human life and all of its complexities &
simplicities. 'Gerry' is simultaneously the
deepest and the shallowest film I have ever
seen. To coin a term from 'Seinfeld'... "It is a
mystery wrapped in an enigma." Or perhaps, like
Newman, "It is a mystery wrapped in a Twinkie."
The film opens with a hauntingly beautiful piece
of music by Arvo Part, called 'Spiegel im
Spiegel' (Also heard in 2002's masterpiece film
'Heaven' by Tom Tykwer), as a car winds its way
along a desert road. The car's two occupants are
Gerry (Matt Damon) and Gerry (Casey Affleck).
This scene may seem interminable to the
impatient and those unwilling to explore beyond
the latest blockbuster release at the
multiplexes, but let me warn you now... it isn't
even close to being the longest single take or
shot in this obstinately masterful film.
The two Gerry's pull off the road and get out of
the car. And then they walk. They are looking
for this 'thing', which is never revealed to us,
and they get lost. That's it! That's the list!
They walk and walk and walk and walk and walk
and walk and walk and walk and walk and walk and
walk and walk and walk and walk and walk and
walk and walk and walk and walk and walk and
walk and walk and walk and walk and walk and
walk and walk and walk -- and occasionally they
talk about something. They have sporadic chats
about 'Wheel of Fortune' contestants, a video
game, the direction they are going in, and about
following animal tracks to the nearest watering
hole. But they are totally and utterly lost.
Along the way, there are some truly funny
moments, some heartbreaking ones, and some very
bizarre sequences. One memorable scene has one
of the Gerry's 'rock marooned'. He has climbed
on top of a huge rock and found that he has no
safe way back down. The other Gerry builds him a
'dirt mattress' to break his fall. It is such a
mind-blowingly bizarre predicament that it makes
you giggle almost incessantly.
There are many such moments, where you realize
the absolute futility of the search. These guys
are totally fucked in every way and they know
it. All they can think of is how insane a way
this is to end your life. But sometimes, in
situations like that, the natural human response
is to laugh.
I understand that many will hate this film,
scratching their heads in utter disbelief that
they took the time to watch it. Some will quit
before they get to the half-way point. I think
this film will appeal to those who love films
like 'Aguirre: The Wrath of God', 'Magnolia',
'Solaris', 'Mulholland Drive', 'Vanilla Sky',
Eyes Wide Shut', 'Leaving Las Vegas', plays like
'Waiting for Godot', and books by Franz Kafka,
Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sartre. This is more
of an existentialist rumination than it is a
traditional story... this film demands thought
and contemplation on the part of the viewer.
'Gerry' poses a lot of questions, but it asks us
to provide the answers.
I think this film magnificently deals with the
importance of memories and the natural fading of
those treasured moments with the passing of
time. This film is a representation of the
undeniable human tendency to persevere through
seemingly insurmountable odds. It is about
finding a direction in life, which may lead to
another and then another and then another. This
film is a metaphor for man's journey through
life's wide open maze, filled with infinite
possibilities. The film lingers on sad thoughts
too... the notion of wasted lives, without
direction, without friends, without compassion.
The film delivers a message that we can't always
get through life alone... that in our darkest
hour, we may need someone to build us a ' dirt
mattress'. It's funny 'cause it's true.
It is not for everyone, but I truly loved this
film from Gus Van Sant. It will easily make my
year-end Top Ten List, and will contend for a
spot in my All Time Greats list. 'Gerry' was
thought-provoking, heart-breaking, hilarious,
sad, deep, shallow, haunting, beautiful,
elegant, harsh, truthful, relentless, powerful
and moving. It is a philosophical masterpiece
wrapped in a cinematic Twinkie.
"How do you think the hike is going so far?"
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
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