JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonWatchmen (2009) - Trailer Included
October 22nd 2009 00:00
The Extra Dimension to the Portrait of a Superhero
Watchmen DVD - Available in Australia
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: David Hayter and Alex Tse
Starring: Billy Cruddup, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jackie Earle Hayley, Mathew Goode, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer (Dawn of the Dead), Stephen Mchattie
“Rorschach's Journal: October 12th, 1985. Tonight, a comedian died in New York.” - Rorschach
Based on the idiosyncratic Graphic Novel by Alan Moore, The Watchmen is possibly the most esoteric of all superhero films. Deemed unfilmable by the ever imaginative Terry Gilliam back in a pre CGI 1989, passing through several hands including Darren Aronofsky and Paul Greengrass before docking in the palm of Zack Snyder. The Watchmen’ s history of getting to the big screen is as much a struggle as any cinema venture ever has been.
The much lauded and revolutionary Watchmen comic forms its mighty spine around caped avengers being treated as human beings in a real world of ambiguous motivations.
Subverting the genre and deconstructing the myth. What kind of a normal person dons a costume and fights crime? The answer is no normal person. These are dark vigilantes, deluded souls and all of them have serious psychological disorders. There are no distinct lines between good and evil, right and wrong, hero and villain.
Cleverly rewriting history in the process the story takes place in a “parallel universe” 1985. In this timeline Nixon has been in power for 5 terms, Watergate never happened and the audience knows who assassinated JFK. Tricky Dicky has banned all superheroes and is faced with the threat of nuclear Armageddon from the Russians.
The murder/mystery plot opens with the brutal, balletic death of The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) by an unknown assassin. Rorschach realizes immediately that one of his own is gone and begins an obsessive search for the truth along the way recruiting other ex heroes and forcing some to ponder their choices.
The original Minutemen
There is Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson), an inheritance rich geek deluded by idol worship who fights crime using expensive technology like Archie, his mechanical flying vehicle.
Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman) is driven by serious mummy issues and is suffering an identity crisis as she uses her sexy figure as a weapon.
Rorschach (Jackie Earle Hayley) is a rage filled sociopath who only understands violence and leaves a trail of bloody carnage wherever he goes.
“I heard a joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life is harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor... I am Pagliacci." Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.” - Rorscach
The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is a bigoted, racist happiest when taking lives and not opposed to raping and enjoying his work too much.
Olympidius (Matthew Goode) is the smartest man in the world with lighting fast reflexes. Cashing in on the fame afforded a hero, billionaire genius Ozymandias comes with questionable morality impaired by brutal logic.
“We can do so much more. We can save this world... with the right leadership.” - Ozymandias
The only one of the bunch with true Super powers is Dr Manhattan (Billy Cruddup). Arguably the most powerful being in any comic book universe he can manipulate all physical matter at a molecular level, experience his lifespan of time in non linear sequence and teleport. This omnipotent control and his scientifically wired brain have him detaching from humanity.
Rorschach finds his motivation
John Doe says:
Startling CG FX are used in a nontraditional narrative structure to make the Watchmen as much a character piece as a grandly designed commentary on our self destructive nature. Jumping back and forth in time the main story is interspersed with graphic background or origin stories that give perspective on current events.
Zack Snyder directs The Comedian
In truth the whole film has a streak of a mischievous 13 year old eager for audience reaction. Sex scenes are glossy and seem to come out of a Playboy shoot, but isn’t that fitting for a pair of split personality sufferers dressed in latex who decide on mutual penetration within a giant owl ship above the city? The violence and carnage is equally excessive, the filmmakers seem to be having too good of a time making it appear on screen, there’s a streak of Paul Verhoven (Robocop, Starship Troopers) in this boy me thinks.
The script was always going to be a tough hone and David Hayter (X Men 2) and Alex Tse do a pretty admirable job. There is substance to be found in their loyal adaptation of the cantankerous Alan Moore source. Sure the ending is changed, but it works for the medium. The “Black Freight” sub plot was not needed in the big picture way and the film would have been about 4 hours long with it all back in.
Those unfamiliar with the original may struggle to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but if you pay attention it is clear. The comic was presented in a similar order and never gave all the answers either making it equally thoughtful.
The acting is variable from the excellent to the abysmal. As the Edward Blake/Comedian Jeffery Dean Morgan (Taking Woodstock, Weeds) is vibrant and charismatic embracing all his characters faults (and there are many) to make a very entertaining performance.
Former child star Jackie Earle Hayley (Breaking Away, Bad news Bears, Little Children, Remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street ) is a violent, ticking-time-bomb presence that makes us feel Walter Kovacs/Rorschach’s ceaseless rage.
In the part of Dr. Manhattan / Jon Osterman actor/computer tracking device Billy Cruddup (Jesus Son, Waking the Dead, Almost Famous) had the thankless task of giving a god genuine emotions. Limited by the fact Dr Manhattan is a completely CGI creation, there are only two scenes where we actually see the unaltered actor.
Patrick Wilson (Hard Candy, Little Children) plays Nite Owl II with appropriately gawky competence. The Mr-Nice-Guy of the bunch still manages to interest next to the more intriguing members.
Sure Malin Akerman (Entourage) looks great in her Silk Spectre II costume but she is certainly the weak link where performance is questioned. Occasionally showing potential, but mostly she seems self conscious and fake in the more demanding scenes and other times is just wooden and disappears. Maybe it the urge to see what Carla Gugino (Sin City) would have looked like in that skin tight disguise that makes this verdict.
Incidentally Carla does bring the damaged melancholy of Silk Spectre I and sells the aging make up. Matthew Goode (The Lookout, Match Point) as Adrien Veidt /Ozymandias encompasses the quintessential superhero type ala Superman in looks while gleefully exposing the darker side of the propaganda image.
John Doe agrees Watchmen is not a perfect film, but it is a fantastic comic book experience for those sick of by the numbers big budget predictability and sentimentality. There is something very fresh feeling about competent adult subversion of the genre. Compared to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and V for Vendetta this is the first worthwhile interpretation of Alan Moore’s seminal work. Remembering to have fun while captivating with cunning awareness, the kids had The Incredibles (which John Doe loves) and the big kids get Watchmen, it is that simple.
Trailer for The Watchmen
| 76 |
| Vote |
Comments (18)
Add Comments
Read More
