Spotlights HANEKE'S FUNNY GAMES: Nothing is funny at all! | HANEKE'S FUNNY GAMES: Nothing is funny at all! |
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Although Lars Von Triel makes movies about America, it is well-known that the Danish film director makes his films without even touching US soil. It has been said that his “USA - Land of Opportunities” trilogy is Von Triel's reaction to some Americans who criticized his earlier work, and in these films he is sending out ‘a series of sermons on America’s sins and hypocrisy’ - - -
- - - Another filmmaker who has a reputation for a disturbing, often shocking style is Austrian director Michael Haneke, who wanted to prove he can conquer American audiences, and even shock them. In fact, he wanted to teach them a lesson. Von Triel created films that depict the so-called 'fictional America', but Haneke just wants American moviegoers to watch his latest film, a remake actually, called Funny Games, although there is nothing either funny or amusing about ‘Funny Games’. There is only one way to describe it: this movie celebrates the triumph of violence and vulgarity over decency. Says the NYTimes Magazine:
While other films somewhat similar in story end up with a happy ending, Funny Games is designed to make sure that the audience realizes one thing: the story will surely end in tragedy. While there is nothing wrong with a sad ending, even a tragic one, Funny Games is relentless in its pursuit of the bleak and dark and violent. There is no redeeming value whatsoever. The world belongs to cynics, and the cycle of violence and killings will continue. How many more families will suffer from the same sadistic games of these two young men, nobody knows. It’s a vicious cycle, the ending of which remains uncertain. Set as favorite Bookmark Email This Hits: 420 Comments (5)
Not Worth It
written by Jean, March 19, 2008
I saw the previews for this movie over the past couple of months and was wondering what this movie was really about. I wasn't about to see it and after reading this review, I'm not about to.
Waste of time and money!
written by Jed, March 19, 2008
I watched Haneke's previous movie Cache, but this one is definitely not for everyone. What I find about this movie is the obvious disregard of the filmmaker to his audience, thinking them all to be dumb and outright stupid.
If his original film was a hit in Europe and that he expected to have one in America, then he's very wrong.
...
written by oilgun, March 21, 2008
I'm not so sure about FUNNY GAMES being a significant failure. I saw it and thought it was one of the most disturbing films I've seen since, well, since the first version, lol! I think that was the director's goal, so in that sense it's quite successful. The psychological violence made me feel sick to my stomach, unlike in Hostel or Saw where the violence was just cathartic entertainment.
Also, I beg to differ about Michael Pitt, he gave a wonderfully chilling performance, I was really impressed. Brady Corbet is also quite good as is everyone else, the acting is amazing all around. Frankly, I'm a bit puzzled by your scathing review, it's one thing to dilike the film, I know a lot of people do and probably with valid reasons, but you have to least appeciate the wonderful performances.
Such scathing review unwarranted for....
written by Arthi V, March 25, 2008
Why such a scathing review? Why? I have seen the original version of 'Funny Games' and yes, this movie is extremely extremely distubing. Each act of the 2 perpetrators on the family is a glimpse to what worse can and will happen. Deriving sadistic pleasure in torturing others for ones own entertainment - this is what the film is about. But it in no way "celebrates" the trimuph of violence as written in this review. Definitely not. It just tells a story of 2 very very very sadist people who re-define what violence and torture are again and again. I think this is a film that any hardcore movie lover shouldn't miss.
Why not? written by jed, March 28, 2008
The film is not only disturbing, but it also raises a lot of questions.
For one, how far can a director go in his drive to promote his own selfish agenda? I say selfish because the reason why he made this film is to have the chance to introduce himself to the American audience. But what sort of film he wants to promote? I never like 'torture porn' flicks- the term as you know is used to describe movies like Saw and Hostel, etc. These to me are harmless movies, a way to escape and be entertained. Everybody is aware that these are only movies and that right after the end credits, people will either forget the movie altogether or discuss it for a few minutes, and they move on. Hanake's intention is to 'remind' or educate American audiences about how much they love violence on films (and sex of course!) and that they have this seemingly 'bad taste' and it serves as a vicious cycle for torture porn movies to propagate and exist as a revenue-generating type of filmmaking. My question is, what is his right to educate or remind American audiences about their choices of movies? As a moviegoer, I would watch any movie I like and I would praise or criticize the movies i have watched, simply because I am entitled to it. It's as if he's looking down on us, somewhere high above, and there is this smear that says 'I shall teach you all a lesson!' From the interviews I've read about Haneke, he reminded me of that Austrian Psychologist, Freud who appears to be interested in learning the human psyche. Haneke is no Freud, he is just a filmmaker in need of attention. Write comment
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