Posted by Edmond Dantes On Thursday, March 3, 2011 0 comments
Here’s a million-dollar question: how do you turn one setting and two actors into a movie? Straight to the point, get Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones to play the two lead roles, then throw in an engaging dialogue. HBO’s The Sunset Limited is an adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s theatrical play, and thus, one cannot expect a very entertaining movie out of it considering its elements, but with the star quality it boasts and through the brilliant direction of Jones, it came out as an award-winning movie in my opinion (I hope yours too).
The film opens in Black’s (Jackson) ramshackle apartment where he and White (Jones) sits across each other with a table in between. White is a suicidal and friendless school professor who sees nothing but death waiting for the living. In other words, he is an atheist. That day, he tried to kill himself by jumping in front of the speeding train named “The Sunset Limited” to relieve himself of human suffering, but for some unexplained reason, or maybe by divine intervention, he was saved by Black, an ex-convict turned into a strong God believer, and was brought into the apartment.
Here, they discuss the reasons for White’s unwarranted suicide attempt, the philosophical natures of religion, and their own perspectives of God. White keeps on bailing himself out one can count how many times he says “I have to go” but he is always enticed to stay by Black, desperately trying to let him see the light. Switch, engage, and then switch again, this is the basic trend of the discussion. Purpose, reasons, even history was tackled. What emerges afterwards is a deep debate about one’s faith and life that soon the questions come out rather to reveal dark and disturbing truths about each other.
First things first, the on-screen presence of both characters is unprecedented, something this movie greatly benefitted from. 90 minutes of talk, debate and discussion and yet you still find yourself wanting more. The film carries a lot of substance and thought that one is likely to forget the movie happened in one location. The individual performances of both superstars were very convincing that their personality was shouted even by their appearance alone. McCarthy took his own script and together with Jones, turned this theatrical play into one engaging and intelligent movie. Although The Sunset Limited offers an underlying tone of atheism, it also argues both sides of the case where religion is given a chance to conquer disbelief. It is a test of faith for both believers and non-believers alike.
The dialogue is subtly and precisely done that being someone who is religiously-attached, I was completely drowned by the ideals of both characters. Certain expectations can amount to this movie being a substitute for sleeping pills, but the result was way too far from tragic and boring. The intelligent discussions, the facial expressions, the seemingly climactic moments, the up and down tone of the delivery of lines and the added humor all contributed to that factor that keeps the audience engaged. One can keep wondering as to whether or not Black can make White believe in God, and to what White’s stand on religion really is in the whole 90 minutes.
Another factor that contributed to the success of The Sunset Limited (one which is noticeable throughout the film) is the plethora of camera movement. One can tell that each shot had meaning and purpose (unless of course you don’t pay much attention). The attitudes and charisma of both characters were perfectly captured they alone provided a window to the characters’ souls the audience can peek into.
In the end, White takes charge of the debate (where Black seemed to be in charge all the time) and reveals his philosophy that makes even a God believer like Black question his faith. The underlying dark and atheistic tone of the movie overpowers that of the religious and leaves a suspenseful moment where the audience is still kept on wondering where the debate led into.
All else, The Sunset Limited is not just a movie, it is an intellectually-motivating journey to finding one’s standing on faith, one’s purpose in life, and ultimately, one’s perspective of God.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário