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| Movie Review: Blindness Alternate Title: Hearts of Darkness
Story: In an unnamed city that
represents anywhere urban life an epidemic of sudden blindness erupts.
Social order is quickly reduced to panic and fear. The Government responds
by warehousing the people who were initially inflicted under the guise
that this disease is contagious. The film is focused on Ward One in
this prison. No one has a name. No one has a background. Everyone is
leveled by this disease. An eye doctor's wife, who is not inflicted,
enters the prison with her husband, pretending she is blind as well.
In the manner of disintegrating social order
(think Lord of the Flies) people are reduced to characatures
of themselves. They either rise to the occasion or are reduced to their
most base levels. The characters are stripped of their backgrounds and
identities and essentially have to reinvent themselves to survive. It is a fascinating, dark and mostly depressing
vision of humanity. The devolution of social order is the predominant
theme. How people find their hearts in darkness is the light at the
end of the tunnel. This film is not for everyone but if you want to
see some visually impressive filmmaking with across the board terrific
acting, check it out. It was deftly directed by Fernando Meirelles
and written by Don McKellar. It is based on
José Saramago's Nobel Prize winning 1995 novel. Acting: Julianne Moore as the Doctor’s Wife
is fascinating to watch. Mark Ruffalo as the Doctor
was a bit weak for me. Alice Braga, the Woman With
Dark Glasses is beautiful and worked well Yusuke Iseya
as the First Blind Man was a little stereotypical for my tastes. Yoshino
Kimura as the First Blind Man’s Wife was grace under
fire. Don McKellar as the Thief and is also the writer
was great. Maury Chaykin as the despicable Accountant
was perfect. Mitchell Nye as the token Boy, was fine
but unnecessary to the film. Danny Glover as the Man
With Black Eye Patch, was a medicated Danny Glover and Gael
García Bernal as the very King of Ward Three, was, as
always, beautiful (even when he is very very bad).
Trivia: This international cast and crew includes
director Fernando Meirelles who was born in São
Paulo City, Brazil. Alice Braga was also born in São
Paulo City, Brazil and is the niece of actress Sonia Braga. Gael
Garcia Bernal was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. Yuseke
Iseya was born in Tokyo. Writer Don McKellar
was born in Toronto.
Predilection: None
Critters: Lots of dogs. There is one very short disturbing
scene where dogs are scavenging.
Food: Tiramisu, institutional rations, sardines, olives,
oranges, peas and crackers
Sex Spectrum: Lots of sex, rape and nudity
Blatant Product Placement: Apple
Soundtrack: An exhilarating soundtrack by Marco
Antônio Guimarães/Uakti
Opening Titles: An overview of normal traffic in
the initially hit city.
Visual Art: Lots of the film is filled with high
contrast lights, shadows and darkness. Very interesting camera work.
Theater Audience: Five other people Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: Rape is very squirmy.
Drift Factor: I was riveted throughout.
Predictability Level: Moderate (I did not read the
book)
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Probably not - unless there is a nod
for adaptation. Big Screen or Rental: I always choose the big screen.
Length: Under two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 7.5 |