Serious SPOILERS ahead for anyone who hasn't seen the film.
Ok, John, let's talk Black Heaven. I watched it last night before I wrote my blog post and, as I mentioned, was underwhelmed. I really like the movie it could have been but not necessarily the movie that it is. The beginning is intriguing and even somewhat crafty. Young, newly-coupled Gaspard and Marion find a cell phone during a forbidden make-out session after swimming with their friends. I thought this scene was done very skillfully. The making out seemed totally innocent and charming. It was the intrusion of Audrey's pictures onto the screen that made things feel...dirty.
The film started to go a bit downhill for me when they saved Audrey and Gaspard took the camera. It felt out of character, though I suppose that is what they were trying to articulate - the good guy has a dark side he can't deny and Audrey was going to bring his out.
I think what it comes down to is that the film sets everything up but then does not continue to explore the relationships between Gaspard and Marion, Audrey and her brother and (most importantly) Gaspard and Audrey. It doesn't go deep enough to be the film that it could have been. I also would have also liked to see the part about the virtual reality game explored more. It fell on some lame stereotypes when the weaving together of these two aspects of the story could have been complex, mind-bending and really excellent. And, come on, was it really that shocking that it was Audrey's brother controlling her character?
I am having a difficult time parsing the ending. Presumably, Audrey has helped others go to the Black Beach. But would she not have died in the quarry if Gaspard and Marion didn't save her? Yes, her brother was in the woods but he was cutting if awfully close. Or so it seems. Does Audrey really jump because she loves Gaspard? Is she sick of helping her brother (to what extent do we place blame on her) lure the people into killing themselves? What, exactly, does her brother get out of all this? Should we grant Gaspard some sort of absolution, if any is required, when he confesses his love to Marion at the end?
Ok, so this isn't me talking you out of liking the film. But those were some of my issues. Honestly, writing about it makes me think that I might like it better than I thought. Or that I at least appreciate the fact that I'm left asking questions about it.
------
Also, excellent point about both PKD and A Scanner Darkly. I think I might just slack off a bit today and re-watch that film. It feels like a good day for it. I might have asked you this already but have you been reading the Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep comic? It is completely true to the text of the book and really well done. I haven't had the extra cash to buy any past issue #18 but I'll get the remaining six at some point. If you have an interest in taking a look, let me know and I'll add them to the ridiculously big pile of stuff I have to return to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment