| Art masquerading as thriller |
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| written by talltale |
June 21, 2004 - 3:21 PM PDT |
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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| On the dvd of PERFECT STRANGERS, actor Sam Neill refers to the film's writer/director Gaylene Preston as something like a national treasure. On the basis of this remarkable movie, she is indeed. The less said about the plot, the better, for this seeming thriller/lady in distress film turns out to be as close to a work of art as the genre might produce. If Ms. Preston were American instead of a New Zealander (not to mention a woman), I believe critics would be comparing her to filmmakers such as Robert Altman ("Three Women"). No matter how bizarre the twists and turns here, everything remains plausible on one level, while ascending into higher realms of metaphor and art on another. The themes that may cross one's mind while watching include--among others--landscape as destiny, men vs. women, the meaning of love, madness and reality. (This is a rich feast.) Sam Neill and Joel Tobeck are fine as the men, but it's Rachael Blake who delivers an unforgettable, multi-layered performance in the lead role. By film's end you may well feel as you do when looking at a great but strange painting: it moves you, engages you and speaks to you--but in a language you cannot quite comprehend. I'll be interested in reactions from other members to this surprising work. |
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