Deviant Booger

When I first saw Tim Burton's Batman I was floored. I've been a Batman fan since I've been a comic book fan, always a fan of the triumphant human spirit over adversity, wit and strength over adversity. Burton captured that and and inherent psychological problems of the obsessive compulsive nature of the super human all human crime fighter and his foes. Burton defined the screen image of the caped crusader and his Gotham universe. This show, based in Gotham, involving some of the lesser characters of that universe, yet characters key to the dynamic that is Gotham, are presented here with a soap opera flair befitting a high school variety show. I haven't seen anything this bad since Batman & Robin. Not that I think Joel Schumacher destroyed the Batman franchise (on purpose), it's just that i don't think very many people really understand the appeal of the Gotham mythos. This show just doesn't get it. It reminds me of the the old outsiders comic book. The girls are pretty, and talented, but I think miscast. The direction seems weak with bad timing. If they want to have a Gotham TV show, why can't they just pull a Smallville and explore the pre-batman Bruce Wayne, he spent something like 12 years of his life traveling the globe and training himself to be the most unstoppable force alive (on paper). That I would watch.

I really don't know what to say about this film that could help someone understand it. I think this film stands for what is good and fun about Canadian cinema, like 'Paint Cans' stands for what is bad and awful about Canadian cinema. Not that I didn't like 'Paint Cans'. I haven't seen this film for quit some time either. So if you come across it somewhere, pick it up, I have a feeling that it is a rare find. Those more contemporary film buffs out there may be impressed to find Mr. Coltrane playing an American visitor (most recently starring in the Hughes Bros. 'From Hell' and 'Harry Potter', who is actually a Brit with a very stellar international career). This film is just a plain good time. And for anyone really in touch with Canadian film culture, this thing has its finger on the pulse of quirky. FORE!

Since seeing this movie, I can not think of beer without thinking of Stroszek, and the way the word fell out of his mouth. Wonderful movie about the myth of the american dream. Fools gold? Ends in a way I did not see coming, and unpredictability, in a good way, is something sorely lacking in so much american cinema. Loved it.