Friday, May 25, 2012

Cannes '12 Review: "Beasts of the Southern Wild" [Un Certain Regard]


I've heard many refer to Benh Zeitlin's Beasts of the Southern Wild as the film that "isn't in competition for the Palme D'Or, but really should be." Consider me among the unconvinced. Despite its intriguing premise and a few standout technical aspects, this Sundance hit (which  one major critic referred to as the best film to play at Sundance in over  a decade) suffers from clumsy symbolism, a repetitive first act, and performances that are either off-base or simply so thin that they are in danger of evaporating. 

Set in the fictional Bath Tub, a region of the Louisiana swamplands, Zeitlin's film centers on the relationship between five year old Hushpuppy (Quvenzhane Wallis) and her father Wink (Dwight Henry). One day Wink falls ill, for reasons not entirely clear, and Hushpuppy must set out to set things right. But before the story proper can really settle in, Zeitlin seems intent on keeping us in an unbroken loop of scenes. There's a look a the poverty, the people, and then BAM! the score (which is, to be fair, phenomenal) swells and we get voice over from Hushpuppy telling us how the people in the Bath Tub always pull together in hard times. It's actually great in a celebration scene involving chaotic fireworks, but other times it feels like Zeitlin is trying too hard to create his environment. The production design is already astounding, and not just for its low budget, yet the writer/director insists on hammering the conditions of the characters home over and over again.

And even when things do kick into gear, Beasts fails to ever gain any sense of narrative momentum, even as it introduces a group of fearsome creatures who awaken after being unfrozen in the South Pole (wow...subtle...). The world the story takes place in (the future? a slightly modified version of the present?) is strongly realized, yet it feels like little comes of it, even with the stakes involved. Weaker still are the performances. Henry brings a volatile, tough-as-nails energy to Wink, and he certainly gets your attention. The character, perhaps more due to the writing, goes through jarring outbursts of anger and violence don't feel entirely earned. I have no problem with Wink as a father who so insistent of teaching his child to survive that he treats her too harshly, but the way Zeitlin and Henry bring it life on screen is distracting. Yet at the very least, Henry feels like he's giving an actual performance. Wallis, on the other hand, comes off like any other small child going through the motions and doing what she's told. Yes, it might sound "real," but that doesn't mean it sounds convincing. Only in one key scene does she actually feel like she's performing and emoting, rather than simply reading lines because someone told her to.

Worse is the way the plot tries to bring in parallels to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which muddles the focus. Yet nothing disappoints more than Zeitlin's handling of the titular  beasts, whose symbolism does become apparent, only to make you question to point of them. The scope of Zeitlin's vision has to be admired, but not his execution. The character arcs feel week despite the potential, and the attempts at some sort of deep southern magical realism never click. An admirable attempt, but ultimately a misfire that deserves little attention. Except for the score, that is. That deserves a standing ovation.

Grade: C/C-

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fantastic goods from you, man. I've understand your stuff previous to and you are just too wonderful. I actually like what you've acquired here, certainly like
what you are stating and the way in which you say it.

You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible.
I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really
a tremendous site.

Here is my webpage: read more here

Anonymous said...

If some one desires to be updated with newest technologies afterward he must be pay a quick visit this site and be up to date
every day.

Here is my webpage; the porno website

Anonymous said...

Why visitors still use to read news papers when in this technological world everything is
existing on net?

my homepage :: http://www.syrusthevirus.com/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=IvoryL41

Anonymous said...

Hello I am so excited I found your blog, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyways I am here now and would
just like to say thanks a lot for a incredible post and a
all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don't have time to look over it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.

Feel free to visit my webpage :: http://pornharvest.com/index.php?m=2084083

Anonymous said...

Hi there everybody, here every person is sharing such knowledge,
so it's nice to read this weblog, and I used to pay a visit this webpage every day.

Here is my web site :: by valerie rios

Anonymous said...

constantly i used to read smaller articles which as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this
piece of writing which I am reading here.


Stop by my weblog - Email Console

Anonymous said...

Hey would you mind stating which blog platform you're working with? I'm looking to start my own blog in the near future but
I'm having a tough time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I'm looking
for something unique. P.S Sorry for being off-topic but
I had to ask!

Have a look at my web site: horny teen girl Masturbating In A shed with a big dildo

Anonymous said...

Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely think this
site needs a great deal more attention. I'll probably be back again to read through more, thanks for the advice!

my website :: Hair Shine

Anonymous said...

Hi there outstanding blog! Does running a blog like this require a
large amount of work? I've virtually no knowledge of programming but I was hoping to start my own blog in the near future. Anyhow, if you have any ideas or techniques for new blog owners please share. I know this is off topic but I simply had to ask. Thanks!

Also visit my site; voice chat rooms

Anonymous said...

Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though
you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously know what youre
talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just
posting videos to your site when you could
be giving us something enlightening to read?

Stop by my site :: Click Here

Anonymous said...

Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the pictures on this
blog loading? I'm trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it's
the blog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.


Look at my site: hair regrowth treatment

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on a team 2 imdb.
Regards

Feel free to surf to my page :: elisa Simply

Anonymous said...

Howdy! I simply wish to offer you a huge thumbs up
for the excellent info you've got here on this post. I am coming back to your web site for more soon.

my webpage How To Make Money From Forex