I'm going to be working up my review of this film soon, I saw it about 3 months ago and just haven't been able to find the time to write the review up, but suffice to say, It's a wonderful film. It's disturbing as hell, but every now and again we have to stare evil in the eye so we can recognize it when it comes. This film is about staring evil in the eye. Here's Hanover Fist with his review...
I just got back from a screening of Brian Singers "Apt Pupil." It was screened as part of The British Academy of Film and Television Arts salute to the work of Ian Mckellen and was held at the Simon Wiesenthal center in West LA. Next week "Gods and Monsters" will also be screened. There were showings at 7:30 and 9:30 and unfortunately I went to the later show (I had work). The women who introduced the movie said that Brian Singer himself was at the 7:30 show to introduce the film but was too tired to stay. That was info I would have rather not known.
THE MOVIE:
Nothing short of a wonderful piece of film making. Sophmore slump I think not. The film was a dizzying array of images and voices, held together by magnificant cinematography,a powerful score, and masterful lead and supporting performances. The film was nothing short of a mind fuck, an experiment in psycological aspects of the deepest darkest depths of of the human spirit, the trueness of evil, and its ability to touch and mold its owners. When I left the theater I needed some air. I needed something that I wasn't going to get.
THE STORY
A high school boy who is obssessed with the holocaust, finds out there is a nazi war criminal hiding in his town and forces this man to tell him the stories of his past or he will turn him in. Set in 1984. Written originally by Stephen King.
THE ACTING:
Brad Renfro was perfect for this role. Natural and innocent at first, as the movie progressed you could sense in his eyes the evil he had witnessed. It's great to see a high school actor that looks like he could actually be in high school. In fact all the high school scenes screamed of reality.
Ian McKellen at times was so much inside his role I wasn't sure who I was looking at. He could and maybe should get nominated for an academy award, but I don't know if politically he will. I didn't see a british actor in his face, I saw a nazi who had done unspeakable things that he could never get over or be forgiven for, and he knew that. It was fascinating to follow his actions and movements. It is only our natural curiosity that would want to know how such a man would act placed in normal American society.
Supporting roles were well cast. Joshua Jackson from Dawsons Creek plays Renfro's best friend basically the same way he plays Pacey on TV. The standout supporting work comes in the unlikely source of David Shwimmer of all people. Yes thats right, the guy from "Friends." He plays the guidance counsler to Renfro, who becomes more integral to the story as it progresses. At first you might smile when you see him in that moustache, but then he wins you over with his innocence and true performance. Great job David.
THE DIRECTION:
Great. Singer knows when to push the action and when to hold back. He knows when to go in close, and when to stay back. He picks and chooses his moments and mixes everything together so well that we can't even see when the twists that do come fall, we don't expect them. He plays with his audience, just like in "Usual Suspects." We become, in essence an unwilling character in the story. We get twisted and torn apart with the story. It's an incredible way to work a movie. In my opinion this is one of the most original stories I've seen at the cinema in a long time. And an ending that works. A last line that sticks with you. Just as the images will as well. Thanks Brian.
Hanover Fist
