Michael Winterbottom's The Killer Inside Me has all the elements of a film that I should have loved: a dusty West Texas landscape, the period setting of the 1950's, Jim Thompson's great pulp novel as its source material, the always underrated Casey Affleck in the leading role. The film has generated some moral outrage in the UK and my friend and colleague Declan Burke has written about that in the Irish Times and in his review here....
My problem is with the picture itself which is an interesting character study oddly unbalanced by a ghastly, luridly-filmed act of misogynistic violence in the first half. Remember when the cop got his ear cut off in Reservoir Dogs while Michael Madsen danced to Steeler's Wheel? No, actually you don't remember that, because Quentin Tarantino had the camera cut away during that scene to look at a blank wall for four or five seconds. TKIM's director, Michael Winterbottom, feels that the human imagination is not rich enough to visualise a woman getting beaten to a pulp and that that act must be shown in hardcore close up. Winterbottom has defended himself by saying that he is being true to the novel which will surprise anyone who has read the book. Unlike say Thomas Harris or Patsy Cornwell, Jim Thompson has no patience for pages and pages of torture (or pages and pages of anything). Winterbottom doesn't get off the hook by claiming that this is Jim Thompson's vision, it isn't, it's his.
...
I had part of the same problem with Kick Ass which I felt was creepy and unpleasant, made more leaden by dull schoolboy humour and then that penultimate scene where a child is viciously beaten in lingering detail. I'm with Roger Ebert on this one, not the hipsters. But back to TKIM, Michael Winterbottom has attempted to do the trick of having his cake and eat it too: in theory condemning brutal sadistic violence against women but also being careful to show us every blow that disfigures a beautiful face. TKIM reminded me of one of those True Detective magazines or those shows on serial killers that pretend to be factual studies but actually appeal to the more salacious instincts of humanity.
...
Can one dreadful scene ruin a great film? Probably not, but can it ruin a good film? Yeah, I think so. I couldn't quite concentrate on TKIM after that and was quite glad when it was over.
...
Of course every generation complains that the world is going to the dogs but the triumph of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, the Saw franchise, Kick Ass etc. leads me to wonder if our culture has been sufficiently desensitised so that brutal violence against women is now considered to be as necessary for the success of a book or film as the obligatory sex scene or the fight between the hero and the villain at the end. God, I really hope not.
52 comments:
I remember sitting in the screening of Reservoir Dogs at the Toronto film festival and watching the producers and studio people as they watched the audience. Giant plot holes were ignored, the silliness of the set-up was ignored (six guys to rob a store and they can't even do that) and the ridiculous ending (imagine cops waiting outside while one of their own is tortured to death) ignored but the cool violence was celebrated. At some times it felt like watching a porno in the 70's, the build-up and release. So like porno, we now have the money-shot.
With the triumph of Pulp Fiction (an Academy Award for that screenplay?) I really think we turned a corner. Like someone said, we don't have to eat our vegetables anymore, now it's a straight diet of dessert.
Sure, every generation says it's the worst and all that, but this is the first time that the grown-ups have really left the room entirely. Maybe the baby boomers never grew up and they've (we've)certainly not given our kids any reason to grow up.
Nice timing as I'm staring to read both TKIM & "Divorcing Jack", both of which seem very applicable to the latest blog discussions I follow.
I actually enjoyed both Tarantino's (not a fan of QT the man) films RD & PF, but it was not because of the violence, it was the characters, dialogue, and even the sountrack. It was diiferent.
Unless it is billed a true story, I am certainly going to let a lot of things slip, without criticism, as long as it is entertaining.
I am as fickle a fan as they get, am quick with the stop button, and will give up on a novel in a heartbeat if it is not entertaining.
The use of gratuitous sex or violence scenes debase the art form in much the same way as we agreed earlier about the use of 'coincidence', - except with the latter it is childish by not trying, and with the former it is trying too hard to be 'grown-up'.
Am I the only one that prefers the half-clad to the full-on? I think not.
Hum, it actually sounds like a pretty good movie, and a pretty good cast, (gotta love Simon Baker, and I've liked Bill Pullman since I saw him in Newsies), but knowing the brutality of the violence shown I don't know if I'll see it or not. I suppose there is always the covering my eyes and peeking through my fingers option though.
Am I the only one that prefers the half-clad to the full-on? I think not.
I'm with ya.
I don't have a problem with violence in movies, but there's a point past which it loses its effect and can be detrimental. Sounds like TKIM went past that.
It's been a long time since I saw RESERVOIR DOGS, and my opinion on PULP FICTION changes every time I see it. I think I see what Tarantino is trying to do, but that's the problem: I shouldn't be aware of him trying to do it. His dialog doesn't bother me as much as I know it bothers John McFet, and most of the vignettes work well as little standalone pieces of cinematic flash fiction, but my thoughts after a movie should be about weightier matters than "What the hell just happened here?"
Tarantino's best movie is JACKIE BROWN, but, he didn't really write that one, did he?
John
We may have to agree to disagree on Tarantino. RD was the triumph of style over logic and apart from the "Bonnie Situation" stuff with the director I liked Pulp Fiction a lot. Tarantino didnt lose me until the ten minute close up of Uma Thurman's feet in Kill Bill and then I realised that the emperor had no clothes, subsequently confirmed by the dreadful Death Proof and the appallingly scripted Ingolorious Basterds.
Sean
I think you'll like TKIM the book, you'll have to report back when you see the film.
Philip
And remember when Hollywood wouldnt have a problem with a lady leading being a size 16?
Glenna
The problem is that it IS a pretty good movie, completely unbalanced by one long, violent scene.
Dana
A lot of people like Jackie Brown. I'm not really one of them. I like the two leads. I thought Robert Forster in particular was very fine but I wasn't really engaged in that story and I felt it was a bit slow. I'd watch it if it was on TV but I wouldnt want to own the DVD.
Hmm, this must have been fresh in your mind when you posted your comments at my place.
This pre-movie buzz for this was all about the violence, but chatter about Jim Thompson's books isn't. This must mean something.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Peter
Yes you're probably right. I saw TKIM nearly a week ago and I wanted to let it settle in my mind a bit before rushing to judgement in a blog post. However my initial feeling hasnt much changed: a good film oddly spoiled by a long drawn out violent scene which wasnt really in the book.
I compare TKIM to the latest episode of Breaking bad which also had an assault against a woman but this wasn't shown, instead it was described in a very effective manner by a private detective.
Jim Thompson has no patience for pages and pages of torture (or pages and pages of anything). Winterbottom doesn't get off the hook by claiming that this is Jim Thompson's vision, it isn't, it's his.
Just got TKIM tonight and I'm more than halfway through. Probably going to finish it tonight as well. First, it is very good and I love his style. Hard to believe it was written in 1952. Second, I 100%agree with your comments Adrian regarding Thomspson's "vision", total B.S.
If anything, I hope that the movie entices more people to read the novel, but there's a good chance that a lot of the movie goer's are not readers, and if the media makes big deal of it, they will only be going to see "the scene".
I knew what was coming, eventually, and like you said, my imagination served me just fine.
If I had not been tipped off and read the same passage, although important to the story, I wouldn't have though much about it, other wanting to know what happens next.
I'll most likely watch it On Demand or cable when it comes around, but not going to pay to see it.
I don't know if it can be boiled down to something as simple as this or not, but I think that often it's not so much the showing of violence as whether or not there is actual empathy with the victim from the narrative point of view. The teller of the story doesn't align him or herself with the person in the power position but with the one who is at another's mercy. A scene that would be an example of this for me is the one near the beginning of The Bad Detective where Harvey Keitel pulls the two underage girls over and uses them to get himself off. It's disturbing, but you never think, wow, what a cool dude he is, wonder what crazy kind of fun he's going to have next. You think, wow, life is really, really sad.
Actually, I stopped watching not long after that, because it was a little too sad, but on another night I might have stuck it out
"You think, wow, life is really, really sad."
That reminds me of Travis Bickle taking Cybil Sheppard to a porno movie in "Taxi Driver."
My v-word: ingest
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Sean
See what I mean? Economy was his watchword. Even if he thought it would sell a million copies JT was too good a story teller to take time out from the narrative and torture someone for five pages.
Seana
I think you mean Bad Lieutenant. The original with Harvey Keitel which I liked but not as much as the remake "You must not zay remake!! Zis is not a remake!!" with Nic Cage and a clearly agitated Werner Herzog.
Peter
But then he went and impressed her and in a whole different way.
BTW Cybil Shepherd in the 70's ...ay carumba!
Orwell's view in 1948.
"Like Pounding a pumpkin" Four simple words is all it took for me to understand, wince and shudder.
TKIM was awesome and it's a real treat to have discovered Mr. Thopmpson. Lot's of times, I had to re-read sentences, think about them, and continue. Looking forward to reading more of his work.
Sean
He's the best. Here's a, uh, surprsingly rambling & discursive piece I did for Declan's blog about a visit to Anadarko, OK, Thompson's home town. This is from 2008 which in blog years was about a century ago.
I think you're on the ball with the review, squire ... That particular scene was unnecessarily overdone, and brutally so. Also, the fact that Jessica Alba's character is still saying "I love you" as her skull caves in ... that's pretty distressing stuff. And a jolt in terms of context, given how true in spirit the movie otherwise is to Thompson's novel.
Why the increasing levels in violence and torture against women in pop culture? The male instinct when threatened is to lash out, and I'd imagine that the violence against women is (in part, at least) a patriarchal society's knee-jerk response to the fear of emasculation and redundancy.
Cheers, Dec
I forget if this has been discussed here, but she makes some very good points.
That's a good article, John. What I'd say in response to it is that I don't think in this particular instance people are reading it to be titillated. Okay, well, the people I know. They just like Lisbeth. I keep getting the people who read it to admit that the mystery element in the first book stinks (for spoilerish reasons I won't get into here) but they don't even want to discuss it. I'll say, "But didn't you find...", and they'll say, "oh yeah but Lisbeth blah blah tattoo blah blah Lisbeth."
What do they call that, a strong misreading?
Yeah, I mispoke the title of Bad Lieutenant.
Adrian,
Nice interview. Almost didn't recognize you with the "almost smile", would have made a better jacket cover photo IMO. Worked in OK City for a month, but never ventured beyond the city limits, but literature was not a high priority back in 92. Also my first exposue to 3.0 beer, tornado's, and drive-thru packies.
I had the same experience and longings as you, but mine were after reading Glendon Swarthout and S.E Hinton.
I guess at the moment, they are focused on Ireland, but it didn't work out so well for Berryman.
Why the increasing levels in violence and torture against women in pop culture? The male instinct when threatened is to lash out, and I'd imagine that the violence against women is (in part, at least) a patriarchal society's knee-jerk response to the fear of emasculation and redundancy.
This is becoming one of my biggest pet peeves. I hate seeing roles, in books, movies, or real life, where men are reduced to nothing more then a means of violence or a wimpy character. What happened to men being the strong, caring, only violent when needed protector that most women in real life really want?
On another note, I just downloaded The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo last week, after reading that article, I'm not sure if I want to listen to it now. A parakeet was stuffed where??? I can't see that being a necessary part of any story...
Sean,
S.E Hinton was one of my absolute favorites as a kid. I actually hunted down The Outsiders recently so I could re read it.
Is the issue the extreme violence or just that the violence is against a woman? It would be unrealistic to never have women being beaten up in films just because it makes people feel uncomfortable.
Glenna,
You might also enjoy Swarthout's. "Bless the Beasts & Children", as well as some of his others, "The Shootist" and "Skeletons" to name a few.
Anonymous, the issue isn't the violence, it's the point of the violence. What part of the story does it serve? What emotional reaction does it produce and why?
Sean,
I'll check it out. I looked at The Liars Club and it sounds a lot like another book I read called The Glass Castle, which was also a memoir. A good example of a story with little violence but you didn't want to put it down.
Seana, I haven't read the Larsson books so I don't know. People really like Lisbeth - or they really don't. There isn't much in between.
The only reason I'minterested is because a lot of people who don't often read crime fiction are picking up these books as an example of the genre. And these books, because they're such big sellers, will influence the direction the genre goes in for quite a while.
I remember when I'd pretty much stopped readiong sci fi and people told me Ender's Game was the one to read...
Glenna,
Stangely enough, my wife just read TGC, and loved it. Now, she's into "A Summer Affair". Opposites attract, just hope she doesn't get any funny ideas, as Mr.X would learn about the Belfast six pack ;)
Sean
Dec took that picture with his phone at two in the morning after we'd been on the sauce for about five hours, so I've never been convinced that thats the real me.
John
Thanks for that. She does indeed. Never read Enders Game, but I have been urged to too. I just began a novel by China Mievelle however and thats good so far.
Dec
Yes. It was like that Carol King song He Hit Me and It Felt Like a Kiss except much much worse.
Glenna
I cant tell you want happens with spoiling the story but you may be disappointed.
Seana
DRAGON TATTOO SPOILER ALERT
Do not read this is you are going to read Stieg Larsson.
Ok yeah I figured out that Martin was the killer almost immediately because he was the only one who was friendly - thats an old Agatha Christie trick. I didnt figure out that she was still alive because that was so stupid. Why would she torture Henrik like that for 40 years?
Lisbeth's character reminded me of Ace from Dr Who in the 1980's. In fact the whole thing reminded me of the 1980's.
Still I'm glad he put those evil capitalists in their place. He sure showed them.
Anon
Why not 90 minutes of a woman getting beaten to death?
Sean,
Nice!!
Adrian,
I'm glad I didn't download the next two yet then. How closely do the The Killer Inside me book and movie follow each other?
Glenna
its pretty close but really you read Jim Thompson for the mood and the style not the story.
"People really like Lisbeth or they really don't"--true. The thing that they don't tend to do is see her as a victim. Which is interesting, as on some level, she certainly is one.
SPOILER ALERT-Girl With Dragon Tattoo
I'm going to try not to be too spoilerish, but I will say that in the initial setup, I thought, if this goes in the way that seems most obvious to me, I am going to be really, really disappointed. And I was really, really disappointed.
The other thing is that if you go to some length to make an island the equivalent of a locked room, you really shouldn't change your mind about that half way through.
SPOILER INTERRUPTION ENDED
Although a woman, I am pretty good at lashing out when threatened too, the lack of upper body strength and a good aim making this less dangerous than it might be.
I liked the movie they made of The Grifters.
Also, Glenna, I'm with you on Simon Baker.
I thought Lisbeth was a victim. The book does slip into polemicism (the third book is a bit too polemic and dense) a lot but I think the characters are good. The mystery might creak a bit but it's still fun along the way.
I had a feeling "He Hit Me (And It felt Like a Kiss)" was goign to come up when I saw Declan's comment. It's a creepy, near-sickening song, not tittilating in the least.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Seana
It was annoyed not disappointed. Very annoyed. And then irritated when I saw the book had 90 pages still to go.
Rob
She's definitely a victim in book 2. Yikes.
Peter
I dont know if they were being quite as ironic as we give them credit for now.
I dont know if they were being quite as ironic as we give them credit for now.
Not ironic, but perhaps expressing protest and horror at the phenomenon. The song's creepy. eerie instrumental tracks argue in favor of this, I think. Of course, Phil Spector's current situation may not help that argument.
==========================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Feel precisley this way about the French film Irreversible which won the Palm D'or at Cannes a few years back. Rape scene which goes on and on in revolting detail makes both filmaker and audience and actual accomplice to the imaginary (as bad as a real one)
crime. One scene can certainly ruin a film.
Long time no hear, PKL. Hope all is well
Pat
Yeah good to hear from you.
Adrian, Seana --
Yup, back from my isabbatical...
On the subject of misogyny, just read Shatter, by M. Robotham.
If you've read, what did you think?
It's unfortunate, but you really don't need to scratch hard to sense the misogyny, antisemitism, xenophobia or homophobia lurking beneath society's surface.
I see what John's saying about RD (and if you were watching the premiere at the Bloor, John, I was in there with you) but Tarentino's never been about the verisimilitude the way Mann or Lumet have. I did like how it turns out that the cop was keeping his mouth shut the whole time, not giving up Roth's identity. Tarentino unfortunately has been backsliding lately.
Aside from the violence itself, one issue I have is that the victims of violence in TV and films tend to be outrageously attractive women - when in real life they tend to be throwaways, without advocacy or people to wonder why they're coming home late. That's one reason I dropped Lawrence Block years ago - aside from Scudder becoming indistinguishable from any of Block's other protagonists, I had no need to read about another gimmicky serial killer murdering beautiful women.
Post a Comment