Post by kissmekate on Jan 24, 2011 10:01:30 GMT
We finally watched this one last night, and although it will not rise to my top Rufus movie list, I didn't think it was all that bad.
Yes, the story goes ahead rather slowly, but that's something I generally seem to mind less than many other people. Willem Dafoe is one of those not-so-good-looking guys who can play just about any character, and I didn't find his performance wooden - his behaviour seemed consistent for somebody who has been living on his own for such a long time after his plans and dreams went down the drain.
As for Irène Jacob, I've seen better films (especially the ones she did with Kieslowski), but somehow her inscrutable face matched her behaviour quite well - you don't really know if she has been somewhat attracted to Martin despite his apparent sinisterness or if she was just trying to get him to trust her so that she could save Heyst in the end.
Sam Neill's understated performance was quite good. In the few scenes he has, he comes across as a totally messed-up character, blinded by greed and especially jealousy.
And now for the last of the foursome: Martin Ricardo is definitely one of the creepiest characters I've ever seen in a movie. There's something scary about him from the moment he's first seen in the carriage with that feverish glint in his eyes that makes you shudder even if you don't know anything about him yet. The childlike touches like chewing on the flower stem or telling the hotel owner that he doesn't really like alcohol but can't resist it anyway as long as the drink is sweet give him a volatility that makes him seem all the more creepy. I agree with whoever of you wrote it that he must have had a f**ed-up childhood that wrecked any chance at normalcy in his life.
His first encounter with Alma was brilliantly done, as he didn't throw himself at her to make her his own as expected but approached her rather slowly and then was quite impressed at her swift (literally knee-jerk
) reaction. Obviously he falls for her immediately.
As the story develops, you know less and less who can be trusted (if anyone). At times I doubted Heyst's innocence (which isn't really confirmed at any time ...) Quite liked that.
I also liked the showdown, starting with Martin coming inside to see Alma in that chair, telling her that she's his chance at breaking away from his evil master, getting a life of his own - just what Alma has seen in Heyst at the hotel. In that scene, the good within him shines through a bit, the cracked-up existence craving somebody who understands him and sees through the hardened and crazed outer shell. For a moment I actually hoped he'd get his chance at redemption and change ...
Of course it was clear that that wouldn't happen - still the rage with which Jones acted out his bitter jealousy and hatred was scary. When he shot Martin the first time, I did feel sorry for the poor creepy sod that his chance at getting away was lost. But the second shot was pure spite, showing Jones's madness and cold blood, that really shocked me. (The first shot through the chest would probably have killed Martin anyway, I guess.)
Some of the landscape shots were quite nice, by the way. Although IASL is by far my favourite "Rufus on Pacific island" movie
Rufus's performance here is amazing. Of course he always is and always succeeds in making the most of even the flattest script, but I was really stunned here at exactly HOW creepy and sinister he could be and how he with his normally charming, down-to-earth, funny and sweet personality chameleoned into such a mess of a man, dangerous, crazy and depraved. He even looks totally different with those madly glittering eyes, gaunt figure and blotchy face. And still, in certain scenes, he manages to show that even Martin Ricardo is human. That's what's so special about his villains: he makes them people of flesh and blood, not just some stencilled stereotype of evil.
As I said, it's not my top Rufus movie but definitely a very fine example of his acting range.
(Only "downside": Now I'll have to find a German copy of "Uncorked" or another feel-good movie with a NICE Rufus character to convince Mr. Kate that Rufus is NOT a vicious creep by nature
He kept going on about how icky Martin was all evening!)
Yes, the story goes ahead rather slowly, but that's something I generally seem to mind less than many other people. Willem Dafoe is one of those not-so-good-looking guys who can play just about any character, and I didn't find his performance wooden - his behaviour seemed consistent for somebody who has been living on his own for such a long time after his plans and dreams went down the drain.
As for Irène Jacob, I've seen better films (especially the ones she did with Kieslowski), but somehow her inscrutable face matched her behaviour quite well - you don't really know if she has been somewhat attracted to Martin despite his apparent sinisterness or if she was just trying to get him to trust her so that she could save Heyst in the end.
Sam Neill's understated performance was quite good. In the few scenes he has, he comes across as a totally messed-up character, blinded by greed and especially jealousy.
And now for the last of the foursome: Martin Ricardo is definitely one of the creepiest characters I've ever seen in a movie. There's something scary about him from the moment he's first seen in the carriage with that feverish glint in his eyes that makes you shudder even if you don't know anything about him yet. The childlike touches like chewing on the flower stem or telling the hotel owner that he doesn't really like alcohol but can't resist it anyway as long as the drink is sweet give him a volatility that makes him seem all the more creepy. I agree with whoever of you wrote it that he must have had a f**ed-up childhood that wrecked any chance at normalcy in his life.
His first encounter with Alma was brilliantly done, as he didn't throw himself at her to make her his own as expected but approached her rather slowly and then was quite impressed at her swift (literally knee-jerk
) reaction. Obviously he falls for her immediately.As the story develops, you know less and less who can be trusted (if anyone). At times I doubted Heyst's innocence (which isn't really confirmed at any time ...) Quite liked that.
I also liked the showdown, starting with Martin coming inside to see Alma in that chair, telling her that she's his chance at breaking away from his evil master, getting a life of his own - just what Alma has seen in Heyst at the hotel. In that scene, the good within him shines through a bit, the cracked-up existence craving somebody who understands him and sees through the hardened and crazed outer shell. For a moment I actually hoped he'd get his chance at redemption and change ...
Of course it was clear that that wouldn't happen - still the rage with which Jones acted out his bitter jealousy and hatred was scary. When he shot Martin the first time, I did feel sorry for the poor creepy sod that his chance at getting away was lost. But the second shot was pure spite, showing Jones's madness and cold blood, that really shocked me. (The first shot through the chest would probably have killed Martin anyway, I guess.)
Some of the landscape shots were quite nice, by the way. Although IASL is by far my favourite "Rufus on Pacific island" movie
Rufus's performance here is amazing. Of course he always is and always succeeds in making the most of even the flattest script, but I was really stunned here at exactly HOW creepy and sinister he could be and how he with his normally charming, down-to-earth, funny and sweet personality chameleoned into such a mess of a man, dangerous, crazy and depraved. He even looks totally different with those madly glittering eyes, gaunt figure and blotchy face. And still, in certain scenes, he manages to show that even Martin Ricardo is human. That's what's so special about his villains: he makes them people of flesh and blood, not just some stencilled stereotype of evil.
As I said, it's not my top Rufus movie but definitely a very fine example of his acting range.
(Only "downside": Now I'll have to find a German copy of "Uncorked" or another feel-good movie with a NICE Rufus character to convince Mr. Kate that Rufus is NOT a vicious creep by nature
He kept going on about how icky Martin was all evening!) 
