Holes Review
by Michael J. Gold (mjgold01 AT yahoo DOT com)April 21st, 2003
Holes **1/2
Directed By: Andrew Davis
Written By: Louis Sachar
Music By: Joel McNeely
The Warden Walker: Sigourney Weaver
Mr. Sir: Jon Voight
Katherine 'Kissin' Kate' Barlow: Patricia Arquette
Stanley Yelnats IV/Caveman: Shia LaBeouf
Mr. Pendanski: Tim Blake Nelson
Hector/Zero: Khleo Thomas
Squid: Jake M. Smith
Armpit: Byron Cotton
X-Ray: Brenden Jefferson
Zig-Zag: Max Kasch
Stanley Yelnats III: Henry Winkler
Running Time: 1:51
Rated PG (for violence, mild language and some thematic elements)
Reviewed by: Michael J. Gold
Stanley Yelnats (Shia LaBeouf) is sent to Camp Green Lake after being caught with a pair of stolen shoes. Stanley, his father (Henry Winkler) and his grandfather attribute all their family's troubles to Stanley's no good, dirty, rotten pig-stealing great great grandfather, who was once aided by a gypsy-like woman and was then cursed when he forgot to fulfill his part of their aggreement.
Stanley quickly learns that life at Camp Green Lake is anything but a picnic. Each of the boys there spends their day digging a hole five feet deep and five feet in diameter. Stanley doesn't really fit in too well with the other boys in the camp except for one kid nicknamed Zero (Khleo Thomas). Stanley seems destined to spend the next 18 months of his life digging well over 500 holes out in the middle of the desert.
There is a lot of story to be told in "Holes" which is based on the best-selling book by Louis Sachar, unread by me. Sachar also wrote the screenplay, however, the film could have benefited had a talented and accomplished screenwriter been called in to work up a second draft. Sachar's screenplay no doubt tries to include the key points on the book, however, the flow of the film is constantly interrupted by flashbacks of both Stanley's great great grandfather and of a schoolmarm who will eventually become the famous outlaw, Kissing Kate Barlow.
There is some wonderful work done by cinematographer Stephen St. John to give the film something of an epic feel. Early in the film there is wonderful shot as Stanley first heads out into the desert and we see all the holes that have been dug. Later we see other shots of the kids working or fleeing into the vast desert and can feel how hot it must be for them out there.
There is also some magnificent performances from an outstanding supporting cast of adults. Jon Voight in particular gives an extraordinary performance as Mr. Sir, the sadistic guard in charge of making certain that the boys dig their holes and come back to the camp each night. Mr. Sir tells the kids that there are no fences of walls around the camp and that if they want to run away they are welcome to try since there is no other source of water for 100 miles.
The Warden (Sigourney Weaver) and the camp doctor and counselor Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson) round out the remaining adults who run the camp. Both do a fine job and are believable in their roles especially when interacting with the many younger actors. These younger actors in playing characters with colorful nicknames like: X-Ray, Armpit, Zig-Zag, and Squid, are given some fairly meaty roles for characters who are primarily secondary to the story. In a lesser film these characters would all be stereotypes, however, "Holes" rings true with all of its characters.
Overall, "Holes" is worth seeing for the work of all the actors involved and for the beautiful cinematography. The story is a little long-winded and convoluted especially for younger audiences, however, teens who are fans of the book will probably enjoy seeing the story they know brought to life.
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.
