Archive for September 21st, 2009

Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru

I finally got around to seeing Tarsem Sigh’s The Fall (2006), and boy was all the hype true. Word of mouth had this film pegged as an incredible effort that cinema enthusiasts simply must find a way to see, and I back this consensus.

Filmed at over 26 locations in 18 different countries, ranging from Spain to India, the scenery alone is worth giving the film a hard look. Gorgeous landscapes fill the 1:85:1 frames and leave you sitting in awe at their raw beauty. From the landscapes, to all aspects of the production design, it is easily one of the prettiest-looking movies ever.

The story somewhat resembles The Princess Bride, with a man telling a young child a fantastical story that gets depicted in dreamlike sequences. However, this aspect is where the connection begins and ends. Everything else about the narrative is delightfully and intricately constructed with enough originality that the immersion one experiences should disguise any allusions to other tales.

The visual style of the fairy-tale story takes a lot of inspiration from the paintings of Salvador Dali with its surreal, flowing, and elegant costumes, set designs, and choreography. Also, the colors are as vibrant as could be, making everything together look absolutely stunning.

One of the many beautiful costumes

The acting, to the leads’ credit (Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru), is actually able to match the level of quality of the aesthetics. Pace’s role as a man heart-sick to the point of severe depression is restrained impressively well, never hinting towards a melodramatic performance style that’s easy to fall into. His success with this is commendable because it helps separate the real-world diegesis from the fantasy tale even further, which may not sound significant but because the effect is very appropriate for the narrative it becomes important. Untaru plays the role of a little naïve Spanish girl who becomes captivated by Pace’s tall tale. Child actors are seldom impressive, but her talent is absolutely undeniable. She is able to carry scenes when she’s alone on screen, and her rapport with Pace is remarkable in its realistic, natural feel. Great acting chemistry is the kind that feels one-hundred percent real, and Pace and Untaru succeed with flying colors.

The Fall, as best as I can find, is most readily available via Netflix. Online downloads might be obtainable, however we can’t condone seeing pirated movies. I would, though, advise that everyone should one way or another find a way to view this spectacular film.

Note: Movie-Thoughts.com plans on eventually writing a piece on The Fall for our Deep Thoughts column. So be sure to see the film and then keep an eye out!