Elephant Review
by Michael Yagi (myagi AT sympatico DOT ca)June 9th, 2004
By: Michael Yagi
Review of 'Elephant'
Genre: Drama
Director: Gus Vant Sant
Year: 2003
The tagline of the movie is 'An ordinary high school day. Except that it's not'. That is exactly what the film was. The movie follows the daily routines of select students in and out of high school. It's told through the eyes of each of these students who follow the same fate. Each of these characters display different characteristics and experiences in the film and at the end of the movie.
It tells us that the unthinkable nature of what happened to Columbine was real, another wake up call for us. While Bowling for Columbine tries to determine what the cause of gun violence is particularly in the lives of children, 'Elephant' is very different indeed. It clearly tells us that there is no straight answer and it does not try to delve into the cause and effect of the result. Therein lies the controversy, what was the point of making this film? Was it necessary? Yes, because this is the world we live in and Gus Vant Sant shows us the extreme environment teens of this time live in. It is real. It could and inevitably will happen, unless someone starts paying attention.
The vastness in the scenes are incredible and the colors are crisp and vivid. The camera lingers on the characters faces displaying their everyday expressions. It adds to the realness of the environment and people. The movie moves at a normal pace and ends at the height of the climax, like waking up from a nightmare. You leave thinking of the horrors and wondering what could possibly have gone wrong. Ultimately it leaves us with a sense of responsibility for future generations. I must say it is a movie that will give mixed feelings. Personally, it is a powerful wake up call for our times.
The verdict:
7.5/8- Void of any story and seemingly mundane. But you are left shocked at the reality of the world's current state.
(c) 2004 Eight Trees CineMANIA
www.eighttreescinemania.com
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
