2000 film from Baltasar Kormakur (Jar City)
not the most innovative film formally, takes not really long enough to create much
generally shot-reverse stuff, with a floating camera at times
canted angles to look a bit 'zany' (not completely ineffective), ditto on close-ups
seems to change filmstock halfway through; move from theatrical pastels and lots of fill lighting (low key on faces) to faster, higher contrast, creating greater 'realist' affects
at times dawdles along like a slacker comedy, but has some excellent moments
clear psychoanalaytic interpretations, which are brought to the fore in pleasingly complex ways (though whether this is luck or judgement)
film could be too subjective, but has some moments where the lead (too attractive for a 'nerd' manages to come outside of himself, break up his own character and unsettle the audience)
these (too few) moments deliver a pretty cutting and effective view of the milleu; the lack of the paternal figure, the casual racism, the casual violence in the gender relations
politically, the film is difficult to read; could easily be regressive, wish for return to the symbolic order (conclusion), if straightforward critique, yet a darker sort of satire seems to at once emerge on this very wish
dissapointing for its lack of invention, when, despite itself nearly, it has some fine moments
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