Uwe Boll's
Best Film!
"Heart of America" will make you appreciate Gus
Van Sant's Columbine inspired film "Elephant" on
a grand scale. As directed by Uwe Boll, "Heart
of America" takes the other approach to the
Columbine killings by presenting a school
shooting complete with Boll's trademark
videogame approach of stylized clothing, rock
music and drugs. Despite the intensity of the
subject, and the incredible impact Columbine had
on the psyche of our country, Boll's film is
remarkably devoid of anything resembling honest
emotions with the possible exception of one
performance (which i will cover later).
I will say, in all honesty, that if I had not
seen "Elephant" prior to this film I'd have been
tempted to grace this film with a C-. In some
ways, it tries and does take a rather unique
approach (if overwhelming) to telling the story.
The first trouble lies in the casting of the
leads, the "Dylan and Eric" lookalikes. Yes,
there are some physical similarities. However,
while both actors can master the "poor me"
look...their voices are far from suited for
anything cinematic. Where Van Sant successfully
took non-actors, Boll just takes bad actors and
puts them into a bad film.
Kett Turton is first on my list as "Daniel" (or
Dylan, if you prefer). Turton has quite the
acting background, but mostly in more
independent projects. "Blade: Trinity" viewers
will note he plays "Dingo" in the film. Turton
is completely inadequate here with a face that
shows great despair and hatred, but a voice that
screams "Serve me a cappucino!" Where the Van
Sant film took a subtle, building approach this
film bounces from trauma to trauma to trauma in
hopes that we will understand why the killers
take their actions and we will sympathize with
them.
Likewise, Brendan Fletcher as "Ricky" does a
nice job looking like Eric but doesn't have the
emotional depth to his performance necessary.
The film possesses a couple of "twists" that I'm
sure Boll was quite proud of...I'm tempted to
share them just to spare you this film. However,
I did note as I was researching this film a bit
that there are those who definitely enjoyed this
film. I suppose they "needed" the rock n' roll
approach to telling this story.
In the film's leads, veteran actors Michael
Pare' (who I've heard referred to as the economy
class Aidan Quinn), Jurgen Prochnow (as a high
school principal) and Maria Conchita Alonso (in
a rather bizarre, remarkably inadequate
performance as a guidance counselor) all
struggle with this material.
The sole exception may be a surprisingly
effective, if somewhat brief, appearance by
Clint Howard. As Daniel's father, Howard is
incredibly powerful in creating a vision of the
homelife that could very well have contributed
to the creation of such a monster.
One of the more gratuitous scenes involves the
setting of "bullies" meeting before school at
the ballpark...I'm sure they are the school's
"jocks", but they come off rather horrid. The
graduated leader of these students is sharing a
story of his most "far out" act in high
school...it is the gang rape of "Slow White." An
attractive, but developmentally disabled young
girl who watches the boys play ball and is
quickly taken advantage of. It's a sad,
heartwrenching scene but beautifully played by
Michaela Mann as "Slow White." I will also give
Boll credit...this could have been a full
frontal nudity, completely gratuitous rape
scene...Boll wisely chose a more seductive,
gentle rape scene that created even more
sympathy for the victim as we watched her face.
Even now, as I sit here, my heart breaks for
her. Also, watching the bully's younger
brother's face turn to horror as he realizes
that he is expected to fill his big brother's
shoes BUT that he finds this act
depraved...well, it's remarkably effective.
The shootings themselves are remarkably
anti-climactic...the "twists" being that a
completely innocent person dies (DUH) and we get
a surprise (mild) killer. Truthfully, this last
twist is so subtle I didn't even notice it the
first time I watched the film (yes, I watched it
twice).
The rock soundtrack is intrusive, but effective
at times. The camera work remarkably amateur
including repeated shots of "Dara" on Meth.
Having worked with many people on meth...nope,
Boll is completely clueless here.
"Heart of America" works on a certain level, and
I'd guess that certain, druggie teens might
prefer it. Intelligent teens and genuine film
fans will have a strong preference for
"Elephant." This film is a stylized, much more
hardcore version of the Columbine stories in
which the bullies who pick on the killers are so
extreme that one can't help but feel they
deserve to die. It completely dilutes the impact
of the actual shootings. I have heard many say
that actions as extreme as those of the bullies
don't happen in "real life." In actuality, they
do. While I view this film as a missed
opportunity that could have been something
special under a better director, it nonetheless
offers a glimpse into the other side of
Columbine.
I can't say I'd recommend this film on any
level, but part of me wants to hear some other
feedback. Of course, those with an already
existing Boll bias would do best to avoid this
film.
©
Written by Richard
Propes
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How We Rated This Film
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TC Candler -
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| Richard Propes
- |
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D+ |
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Jacob Hall
- |
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TC Candler's Comment
N/A
Jacob
Hall's Comment
N/A
