Reviews

If you, like me, have watched the trailer for "I Melt With You" and are attracted to the allure of a philosophical tale about men confronting the harsh realities of late middle-age, think again. The trailer is a misrepresentation of the film. As a man, 42 years of age (at the time of this submission), I was enthusiastically intrigued by the premise presented in the trailer, but alas, I was misled. Instead, the film is nothing more than a romanticizing of the abuse of drugs and alcohol for the first hour and a romanticizing of suicide the second. Metaphorically speaking in a quite applicable and relevant sense, I thought I was partaking of some fine wine and discovered I was tricked into a bad acid trip.

To its credit, the film features spectacular photography and a provocative musical score, however this is extremely influential in an almost criminal way, because both are employed to glamorize ugliness and tragedy. Yeah, yeah... for those grabbing their "freedom of speech" muskets, the kind of message this film sends can be equated to some fictitious right child pornographers seek. It is destructive and it is reckless. Why? Because the film is advertised as a coming of age story and that is a blatant lie.

Four college buddies get together for their annual seven-day getaway to pop pills, snort coke, drink booze, smoke weed, pretend there exists some semblance of meaningful bond between them, pass out, then do it all over again each day. Truth is, these four guys are complete cowards, and save Christian McCay's character, are completely unlikable. The ring leader, self proclaimed MC (Thomas Jane) is a womanizing, a##h##e. Then there is the Madoff wanna-be (appropriately played by Jeremy Piven). Rob Lowe is his sleazy self as an MD who sells fake scripts on the side. Finally there is Tim (played by McCay, who reminded me of a Zach Galifianakis-iesque type personae) who was the only somewhat likable and identifiable character in the film. Actually, the only issue I had with the latter was that his homosexual orientation was so obviously and gratuitously introduced to remain PC and in reality, his three pals were the types that would have shunned and ridiculed him for being gay. (Come on, Mark Pellington, give me a break!) Like an MTV music video, the film carries along with truly effective moments of presenting the despair and dissatisfaction these four men recognize in their lives (as they continue to drink and drug themselves into oblivion), but then there is a turn for the worst when the sensitive Tim...

I don't want to commit spoiler-violation-treason here so let's just suffice to say the film continues its downward spiral from here as it attempts to glorify the most selfish of acts. Oh, and the crying and tears! I have never witnessed a film with men weeping and wailing so much and so frequently. These guys need to grab some balls and go watch 300! It was ridiculous! To watch the four grown men belly-aching and whining because of their regrets, mistakes, and doing drugs and drinking booze to hide from it (in that order) was quite frankly... disgusting. What a shame that four decent actors would partake of such rotten fruit.

The film offers no value because it was falsely marketed and it attempts to aspire to be something meaningful and profound that drugs, alcohol, and suicide will never equate to. When the credits rolled, I found myself compelled to take the same shower I took after Irreversible and Martyrs. Yep, the film is that dark, meaningless, empty, nihilistically ugly, and ultimately, pathetically shallow.

We are warned that the rules are simple: 1. Avoid populated areas at all costs. 2. If you come in contact with other people, assume they have it. 3. The virus can survive on surfaces up to 24 hours so never touch anything that is not disinfected. 4. The sick are already dead and they cannot be saved. Easy enough, huh?

A deadly avian flu pandemic has swept across the country leaving a multitude of bodies in its wake. Two bothers, Danny and Brian, along with their female companions, Bobby and Kate, are making a beeline across country to the west coast where they hope to find solace from a world in rotting decay. It's along the way, however, that they are confronted with their worst horrors: making moral choices in a world void of conscience.

If loving your loved ones meant cracking the seal and becoming vulnerable to a diseased death, could you do it or would you opt for life and cast those you hold dear aside? At first take, the question seems like a no-brainer, however Carriers complicates the question in an uncomfortable manner. It's a game of fetch and flinch in a dog eat dog world.

An unnerving and powerful film, Carriers is not legendary, but it does leave a nasty bite... That is, if you begin to dwell too long on its suggestions. It is timely in its sting, what with H1N1 and bird flu and evils scarcely whispered behind closed doors away from the prying lick of government ears. My only major complaint is its rather relatively short length. I wish it would have "digressed" deeper.