Hey folks, Harry here... Capone forwarded me this review with a few comments saying that not only was he at the screening, but that apparently he interviewed Vincent Gallo immediately following his latest 'meeting' with Roger Ebert and that Vincent spilled a degree of the contents of that meeting to him, for publication here soon. I'm DYING to hear Gallo's side. I can't think of a film that has been more publicly assassinated as being a blight upon humanity as we know it. But when the film screened at Toronto, the reviews began to turn positive. Now... "masterpiece"? Well... we'll see. Here ya go...
Hey Capone,
Aintitcoolnews, long time reader, first time reviewer.
Yesterday, The Brown Bunny screened in Chicago followed by a Q&A with Vincent Gallo.
Here are my thoughts on the film…
The Brown Bunny is a masterpiece! American cinema at its best!
The film is a minimalist examination of the damaged human psyche, an honest and profound tribute to the broken heart, affectively portrayed by Vincent Gallo's character, Bud.
At the heart of the story, is one man's personal journey as he struggles to find solace within himself, with hopes of getting past the guilt he's been carrying around for some time. It's about making the tough decision to move on with your life, and attempting to put the past behind you.
Vincent Gallo has to be one of the most misunderstood artists of his generation. You cannot simply categorize his talents as a filmmaker, he is so much more than that, and he is a true ARTIST!! The press has never given you this side of him, because that doesn't sell. He is one of the most charismatic and articulate artist I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Peter Fonda was another such person. I've met so many filmmakers along the way, who get into making movies for the chicks, fame, adulation, much like the plethora of young boys who start rock bands, but Gallo's intentions are far more complex, when compared to his contemporary counterparts. He draws his material from life experience, unlike the new generation of filmmakers who "pay homage" to films and filmmakers. The biggest problem is, everyone wants to be a filmmaker, without putting in the time. You must live and experience life before you can actually attempt to sit down and write a screenplay. If not, where do you draw from when writing?
The Brown Bunny is not a film about Chloe Sevigny giving Vincent Gallo a blowjob. In fact, when the scene unfolded, it was disturbing to watch. It has to be one of the most demeaning scenes I've ever seen an actor perform on screen. I had to stop myself a few times from turning away. But, after the film ended, and knowing why the scene was done in the manner which it was done, I can say that the scene is not gratuitous, to say the least. It completely serves its purpose in the narrative.
As a writer, I've always been interested in human behavior, in trying to understand how people make decisions, good or bad, based on some of their earliest experiences in life. The BJ scene is Bud’s attempt to understand that particular moment, which changed his life forever, in order to move forward. The graphic scene, in the context of the story, works for me because it's a plausible and valid action a character in Bud's state of mind, would make in an attempt to makes sense of it all. Chloe is a brave soul for committing to the scene. Not something I enjoyed witnessing. And, I should have.
The honesty and the brave choices Vincent Gallo makes in the story, is what makes this film work for me. It’s definitely not a narcissistic attempt by an individual seeking to have the masses praise his existence. And, it's definitely not pretentious filmmaking.
Vincent Gallo is a true original working by his own rules, an artist who truly respects organic storytelling, his characters, and most importantly, the filmmaking process.
The Brown Bunny's road sequences makes you reflect on your own life as the dreamlike images appear on the screen. Those long haunting road scenes provoke you to exam your own psyche and state of mind.
Now, I understand this film is not for everyone. And I couldn't recommend it to the average moviegoer, because they'd probably want to kill me after watching it. It's a true art house movie, not to be confused with the "art house" movies Miramax makes. The Brown Bunny takes you back to the old school of art house movies.
It's one of the best American films I've seen in a long time.
Hopefully, Vincent Gallo will continue to make films in the future.
I loved it! Don’t miss this film!!
Traylor Park
