The King (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'The King' is a drama written by Milo Addica (Monster's Ball), James Marsh & is directed by Marsh, as well. After being discharged from the Navy, 20-something Elvis Valderez (Gael Garcia Bernal) goes to Corpus Christie, Texas to track down the father he never met, David Sandow (William Hurt). Now, David's a pastor, a husband, and father to two Christian teenagers. David wants nothing to do with his illegitimate son. And so, Elvis lulls around town a while, & soon 'falls for' Malerie (Pell James). Problem is ... she's his half-sister. What's more of a problem? Elvis knows it, and doesn't care. This is a twisted film that goes to extremely dark places. I appreciate the Greek tragedy-ness of it all, but the end is weak. And Elvis' vague intentions don't help us understand him any better.
Although he is dismissed by his father, Elvis sticks around Corpus Christie. He rents a room at a local motel, gets a job delivering pizza, and positions himself closer and closer to Malerie.
Meanwhile, her older brother, Paul (Paul Dano), becomes overly suspicious of this new-man-in-town, Elvis. And when he mysteriously goes missing, the Sandow family struggles to persevere & fully trust God to pull them through. Paul's mom, Twyla (Laura Harring of Mulholland Drive), loses faith and spirals into a maddening depression. David is in denial of his sons' disappearance; and chooses to become close to his 'other' son, Elvis. And Malerie knows the secret behind Paul's disappearance; but won't utter a word as it would send shockwaves through those whom she loves most.
Gael Garcia Bernal's performances continue to intrigue me. For one thing, he speaks with an American accent so well that you'd hardly believe he is from Mexico. Two, there is a boyish innocence to his appearance that juxtaposes his character in this film; Elvis is not a good guy, at all. At first glance, you think he's a normal guy: walks down the road, finds a hooker, checks into a motel, locates his dad, appears casual ... but what's brooding underneath his surface is surprising & terrifying. Pell James is fantastic as Malerie. She's a good girl who gets lost in Elvis' path of destruction. One tense scene where the camera focuses acutely on her face during a certain revelation is subtle & spine-tingling. And both William Hurt & Laura Harring are quite stellar as Mr. & Mrs. Sandow.
'The King' captures your attention but fails in the last 15 minutes. The whole movie has you on edge, but it never allows you to fall-off. Instead, when you're waiting for a confrontation, waiting for something to boil and explode, you come off of the edge & slide back against your seat; almost as if you've been gypped. It is hard to justify some of the character's actions near the end, as well. What does Elvis want from David Sandow and his family? Knowing right from wrong, why does Elvis do some of the things he does? Overall, this is a worthwhile, thought-provoking, & disturbing film about Christianity, rebirth, sin, & faith. Can everyone be redeemed? Is it too late to embrace God after you've so vainly sinned?
Although he is dismissed by his father, Elvis sticks around Corpus Christie. He rents a room at a local motel, gets a job delivering pizza, and positions himself closer and closer to Malerie.
Meanwhile, her older brother, Paul (Paul Dano), becomes overly suspicious of this new-man-in-town, Elvis. And when he mysteriously goes missing, the Sandow family struggles to persevere & fully trust God to pull them through. Paul's mom, Twyla (Laura Harring of Mulholland Drive), loses faith and spirals into a maddening depression. David is in denial of his sons' disappearance; and chooses to become close to his 'other' son, Elvis. And Malerie knows the secret behind Paul's disappearance; but won't utter a word as it would send shockwaves through those whom she loves most.
Gael Garcia Bernal's performances continue to intrigue me. For one thing, he speaks with an American accent so well that you'd hardly believe he is from Mexico. Two, there is a boyish innocence to his appearance that juxtaposes his character in this film; Elvis is not a good guy, at all. At first glance, you think he's a normal guy: walks down the road, finds a hooker, checks into a motel, locates his dad, appears casual ... but what's brooding underneath his surface is surprising & terrifying. Pell James is fantastic as Malerie. She's a good girl who gets lost in Elvis' path of destruction. One tense scene where the camera focuses acutely on her face during a certain revelation is subtle & spine-tingling. And both William Hurt & Laura Harring are quite stellar as Mr. & Mrs. Sandow.
'The King' captures your attention but fails in the last 15 minutes. The whole movie has you on edge, but it never allows you to fall-off. Instead, when you're waiting for a confrontation, waiting for something to boil and explode, you come off of the edge & slide back against your seat; almost as if you've been gypped. It is hard to justify some of the character's actions near the end, as well. What does Elvis want from David Sandow and his family? Knowing right from wrong, why does Elvis do some of the things he does? Overall, this is a worthwhile, thought-provoking, & disturbing film about Christianity, rebirth, sin, & faith. Can everyone be redeemed? Is it too late to embrace God after you've so vainly sinned?