Sunday, May 24, 2009

WATCH THIS: THE FALL


Welcome to the return of DVD of the Week, now retitled Watch This. It's been a long time since I did this feature but after watching The Fall, I had to tell everyone about this beautiful and amazing film.

Set in 1915 in a Los Angeles hospital, a bedridden and depressed stuntman Roy Walker (Lee Pace from Pushing Daisies) befriends Alexandria (Catina Untaru), a little girl with a broken arm. He tells her a story of five men on a quest of vengeance against the evil Governor Odious. Alexandria weaves the story from her own view point but it's all a ruse. Roy, who may never walk again, is heartbroken over his girlfriend who has left him for another man. Roy tells Alexandria the story to gain her trust and trick her into stealing pills for him so he can commit suicide.

The film took four years to complete, shot on 26 locations in 18 countries, only to sit on the shelf for two years before being released. The director, Tarsem Singh (The Cell), put up his own money to make the film. To say it's beautiful is an understatement. The exotic locations, artfully designed camera angles and colorful art direction are unlike anything you've ever seen. But what is equally remarkable is the performance of Catinca Untaru. She's so incredible, it's hard to believe her scenes are scripted.

The Fall is a true rarity; exotic, bizarre, fanciful and imaginative, it's amazing this film was ever made. So open your mind and your heart and be swept away by The Fall.

Trivia: Tarsem Singh put together a small memory box, like the one Alexandria has in the movie, to use as a tool during pitch meetings in hopes to secure financing for the film.


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