Southland Tales

Starring: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Justin Timberlake, Wallace Shawn, Miranda Richardson, Mandy Moore, Kevin Smith, John Laroquette,  Jon Lovitz, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Beth Grant, Nora Dunn, Will Sasso, Zelda Rubinstein, Christopher Lambert, and Curtis Armstrong

Written and Directed by: Richard Kelly

Southland Tales is a sprawling, manic, almost directionless film coming from Richard Kelly, famous for Donnie Darko.  With a neverending cast of stars from a to d list, the film is directionless only because it has so much it wants to say.  A dark satire of a post 9/11 America and Hollywood the movie is very frustrating at times, yet it is so engrossing, you can’t turn away.

The film follows a couple of vague storylines all based in a post apocalyptic world.  Nuclear attackshave struck Texas and World War III followed, while the Republicans grow in power, there is a rise of neo-marxists looking to thwart them.

One of our protagonists is Boxer Santaros, played by The Rock himself, Dwayne Johnson.  Boxer is the son in law of the Republican candidate for president, Bobby Ross (a very nice subtle knock on ol’ GW).  He is a famous actor/filmmaker who is the pawn of a neo-marxist plot by Saturday Night Live vets Amy Poheler and Cheryl Oteri, as well as Sarah Michelle Gellar who plays a porn star…quite convincingly.  The Rock is phenomenal in the role and really deserves more exposure as an actor.

Seann William Scott plays a dual role of Roland/Ronald Taverner…twin brothers.  One a Neo Marxist, one a cop.  He is surprisingly subtle in the role, but almost too subtle as his role is overshone by the rest of the cast.

Justin Timberlake is as always entertaining.  You can hate the guy, but he is very self deprecating which earns him respect from me anyways.  His highlight is a drug influenced music sequence straight out of the Big Lebowski.

Shining in their minor roles are Lovitz, playing a bad ass neo-marxist and an unrecognizable Kevin Smith playing a legless veteran of the Iraqi war.

The plot is difficult to follow but the film is entertaining enough that if you don’t want to bother, you don’t have to.  It will still take you along for a ride.  But if you commit to it, you will be rewarded with a lot of meaning.

Overall, it certainly isn’t a film for everyone, but it is definitely a worthy piece of filmaking that I enjoyed.

B