The film has a tough script to crack but if one watches a short commentary by Kelly and others that is part of extra features on the DVD it all makes much more sense. In short they attacked post-9/11 measures on security, lack of quality in politicians, the war in Iraq and all the extreme political movements, be it ultra-right conservatism or liberals and Marxism. All that washed in a sci-fi soup that revolves around Kelly's obvious fascination: time warps, the 4th dimension and black holes. It is one of the basic principles of the quantum physics that when a particle collides with its exact anti-particle the world around will collapse. The problem I have with Kelly is that he touches such weighty philosophical themes but does not go deeper, it seems very superficial, we do not know why, do not know how and what for. Why is the Taverner character supposed to be a "messiah"?? Why at the end of the scenes in the mega zeppelin, when Dwayne spreads his arms out as if being crucified, there is a red print of Jesus appearing on the back of his shirt?? What happens in the skies - there is a 3 second shot of something major happening there, but what?? Why Taverner's hands beam light?? What is the meaning of the scenes on the beach, when the crazy fan demands that the hero allow her perform a sexual act on her?? Who is the character played by Christopher Lambert?? In short: WTF, Kelly??? Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed at least 3 scenes in this film, excellently written, directed and shot, all 3 the "musical" ones: when Timberlake sings I've got soul but i'm not a soldier, with a superb dance routine, that amazing long long shot inside the mega zeppelin with the amazing song, and then the best ever rendering of the US national anthem. I watched the 3 scenes several times and they are awesome. But the rest?.. Hmm. I give it an additional point for ambition and strangeness in a good way, because too many films are formulaic and simplistic these days. I deduct a point for Kelly trying to bite off more he can chew.
Review of Southland Tales
