Funny Games
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DVD details
Actor: Michael Pitt, Naomi Watts, Tim RothBrand: WATTS,NAOMI
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Dubbed); Spanish (Dubbed)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.77:1
Running Time: 112 minutes
Published: 2008-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2008-06-10
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- Condition: New
- Format: DVD
- AC-3; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; DVD; Subtitled; Widescreen; NTSC
DVD Reviews of Funny Games
DVD Review: I have...absolutely no idea what to think.
Summary: 3 Stars
There's no denying that Funny Games is a very artfully made film, a unique concept, and more than anything, is interesting to talk about.
There's also no denying it's irritating, not entertaining, won't change your mind about anything, and will make you cringe with its condescending hatred of you, the audience.
Funny Games, is, essentially, an argument in favor of not watching it. It, being the movie itself. Confused?
While advertised as a typical gory, violent torture film, the film's message is in fact that the stuff isn't at all entertaining or enjoyable, and basically, you're wrong to enjoy watching violence. It's a movie that makes you try to hate it at every turn, to the point where one of the movie's two preppie villains turns to the camera and says, "Are you entertained?"
SPOILER WARNING for just this next paragraph...
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Of course, you aren't supposed to be. There is no fun, no catharsis, no climax, no nothing. It ends in the most condescending way possible, and with the most anti-climactic death scene ever filmed. While that's happening, simultaneously the villains have a very thinly veiled conversation. Surprise, they're talking about the message of the movie, about how what you see is basically reality (so you should feel guilty for enjoying violence, of course). They even end it in the most condescending way possible (I apologize for overusing that word, but it really does describe the whole movie); one villain calls the idea BS, to which the other simply says "Why?". "Oh, wow! That was exactly what I was thinking, and now I myself must answer that question," thinks the supposed naive, intended audience (not that it actually happened, especially the way I phrased it...).
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This is a movie that actually gives you one satisfying moment, and literally decides to rewind it so that it never happened. Why? Says the director (apparently in commentary, though I've not watched the commentary myself), to show that you, the audience, were complicit in a murder. It's also inferred in a couple ways the preppies are killing these people for your sake, making this a theme of the movie. Hmm, interesting. I hope I don't get arrested for that picture of Godzilla destroying a tank I drew in 4th grade...what makes this even more ridiculous, is...well, the victim isn't a good guy. And to feel guilty about being happy about his death, ESPECIALLY considering what just happened to the one who did it, is just utterly absurd.
Personally, I like to take a more positive look at it. This movie says, you're wrong and a bad person for enjoying violence. I say, it's pretty obvious why we like the stuff. It's EXCITING. Fear, action, and yes, violence get the adrenaline running. Morbid, gory things, do the same thing, although I think people's curiosity about death might factor into that attraction to it as well. Now, don't get me wrong. I despise Hostel, Turistas, and the rest of the torture film trend. However, the director takes it WAY far in his criticism of fake violence. There's a border between violent and sadistic, just as there is between a dramatic film and a depressing one.
However, I do want to talk about the actual...you know...movie. Even without the infuriating artsy details, the movie is rather unique.
The villains aren't crazy looking, wide-eyed psychos, or...a poorly developed gimmick (like a clown). Well, unless you count being preppy as a gimmick. Polite and soft spoken, even while killing people, they're the type of strange villain that will break someone's leg and then offer treatment, or say "Please stay still, I might hurt you" with a straight face, right before throwing someone into the ocean to drown. They're very well acted, and prove to be a memorable presence. However, they're also...kind of boring.
Here we come to the next double edged sword. Pacing. How do the villains take control? Initially, by borrowing a golf club, breaking someone's leg, and then sitting around for a very long time, before transferring to the living room, where they sit around and talk longer. The movie uses very long sequences with minimal action. This is actually...sort of interesting. Not many other movies have the villains sitting in the control by doing so little, and it's kind of disturbing to see them have it so easy (though plenty of people say the victims are wimps, and that's not exactly wrong). In addition, the film tends to dwell on things. After the first family member's death happens, the others are left alone, tied up. There's a very long take of this - first, she just sits there looking at the ground, in shock. Then, she tries to get up, which of course takes forever (It's tougher than in the movies...), and still longer before she gets a knife. It's definitely a cleverly done scene, and adds a good bit of realism, but it's also...long. Without anything really happening. The slow pacing is ocassionally frustrating, but it also really helps the film stand out.
And also, while there are more than a few nice (and rare for the genre) injections of reality, there's way too much chance and coincidence to be reality (Not to mention breaking the fourth wall and traveling through time), which hurts the impact overall.
As you can see, I had a hell of a lot to say about this movie. And yes, it definitely stuck in my mind, even weeks later. However, it didn't do so in a good way, nor did it "reach me" as the author intended it to. I thought about it a lot, but always finished it unsatisfied. It's as irritating and stupid as it is genius and unique.
Thus...3 stars.
Description of Funny Games
Genre: Suspense
Rating: R
Release Date: 10-JUN-2008
Media Type: DVD
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