Wonderland
2/4
Starring: Val Kilmer, Kate Bosworth, Dylan McDermott, Josh Lucas, Eric Bogosian, Lisa Kudrow, Ted Levine, Franky G, M.C. Gainey
Rated R for Strong Violence/Grisly Images, Pervasive Drug Use and Language, Some Sexuality/Nudity
The Wonderland Murders are one of the great unsolved mysteries in U.S. Four people were brutally murdered in retaliation for a heist, but the specifics of how everything went down and who did what remain a mystery. The two people who knew, John Holmes and David Lind, were not credible witnesses. Lind had a long criminal history and both were drug addicts. Director James Cox tries, with limited success, to tell both Holmes' and Lind's version of the events (and perhaps his own version of what happened).
John Holmes (Kilmer) was The King of Porn. With his legendary penis and fame in the pornographic film industry, he was as notorious as he was famous. But with the advent of video, his work dried up, and he turned to drugs. The film takes place after his fall from grace. But in June 1981, he was the connection between businessman/drug lord Eddie Nash (Bogosian) and the murders of the Wonderland gang.
James Cox has constructed his film as a puzzle. David Lind tells his version of the events, then later we see Holmes' version. There are also flashbacks interspersed in these stories, as well as the "main" plotline, which follows John around as he struggles to find the next high while staying out of trouble. Even some of these scenes are open to question, because we see them through the eyes of his girlfriend Dawn Schiller (Bosworth) and his estranged wife Sharon (Kudrow). But what they say isn't always what really happened.
It's all very complicated. For the most part, it's well organized enough that we can understand what's going on, although there were a number of times where I was confused, and had to rewind the film a few times in order to get some idea of what happened (or what someone said happened).
The acting is the film's strong suit. Val Kilmer has always been a strong actor in films like "Heat" or "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." He gives a terrific performance, one that might have warranted an Oscar nomination (one that is long overdue). Unfortunately, Cox's kinetic style mutes his charisma. Ditto for Kate Bosworth, although she doesn't have much to do other than sit in a hotel, do drugs, or be told to wait in the car. Dylan McDermott is quite good as David Lind. McDermott's range is usually limited to low-key performances, but he does well as the intense, foul-mouthed David Lind. Eric Bogosian manages to chill once or twice as David Nash; this is not someone to be messed with. Josh Lucas, Ted Levine and especially Lisa Kudrow provide solid support. The film also has a number of known names in cameos, like Tim Blake Nelson, Christina Applegate, Natasha Gregson Wagner and Janeane Garafalo, but they're in bit parts. It's impossible to recognize them because they have so little screen time. Paris Hilton also shows up for a bit part.
Ultimately, Cox's hyperactive style is the film's undoing. It is so energetic that we lose sight of the story and the characters. This is a compelling story and Cox's approach is unique, and it would have worked without the Michael Bay-ish coloring.
Starring: Val Kilmer, Kate Bosworth, Dylan McDermott, Josh Lucas, Eric Bogosian, Lisa Kudrow, Ted Levine, Franky G, M.C. Gainey
Rated R for Strong Violence/Grisly Images, Pervasive Drug Use and Language, Some Sexuality/Nudity
The Wonderland Murders are one of the great unsolved mysteries in U.S. Four people were brutally murdered in retaliation for a heist, but the specifics of how everything went down and who did what remain a mystery. The two people who knew, John Holmes and David Lind, were not credible witnesses. Lind had a long criminal history and both were drug addicts. Director James Cox tries, with limited success, to tell both Holmes' and Lind's version of the events (and perhaps his own version of what happened).
John Holmes (Kilmer) was The King of Porn. With his legendary penis and fame in the pornographic film industry, he was as notorious as he was famous. But with the advent of video, his work dried up, and he turned to drugs. The film takes place after his fall from grace. But in June 1981, he was the connection between businessman/drug lord Eddie Nash (Bogosian) and the murders of the Wonderland gang.
James Cox has constructed his film as a puzzle. David Lind tells his version of the events, then later we see Holmes' version. There are also flashbacks interspersed in these stories, as well as the "main" plotline, which follows John around as he struggles to find the next high while staying out of trouble. Even some of these scenes are open to question, because we see them through the eyes of his girlfriend Dawn Schiller (Bosworth) and his estranged wife Sharon (Kudrow). But what they say isn't always what really happened.
It's all very complicated. For the most part, it's well organized enough that we can understand what's going on, although there were a number of times where I was confused, and had to rewind the film a few times in order to get some idea of what happened (or what someone said happened).
The acting is the film's strong suit. Val Kilmer has always been a strong actor in films like "Heat" or "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." He gives a terrific performance, one that might have warranted an Oscar nomination (one that is long overdue). Unfortunately, Cox's kinetic style mutes his charisma. Ditto for Kate Bosworth, although she doesn't have much to do other than sit in a hotel, do drugs, or be told to wait in the car. Dylan McDermott is quite good as David Lind. McDermott's range is usually limited to low-key performances, but he does well as the intense, foul-mouthed David Lind. Eric Bogosian manages to chill once or twice as David Nash; this is not someone to be messed with. Josh Lucas, Ted Levine and especially Lisa Kudrow provide solid support. The film also has a number of known names in cameos, like Tim Blake Nelson, Christina Applegate, Natasha Gregson Wagner and Janeane Garafalo, but they're in bit parts. It's impossible to recognize them because they have so little screen time. Paris Hilton also shows up for a bit part.
Ultimately, Cox's hyperactive style is the film's undoing. It is so energetic that we lose sight of the story and the characters. This is a compelling story and Cox's approach is unique, and it would have worked without the Michael Bay-ish coloring.
Comments
Post a Comment