The King

Not for the first time, I thank the British Cable/Satellite channels for making available an excellent film that that I would not have noticed at the cinema over here, in fact I don't believe it gained any significant cinema distribution at all. This is another example of the 'small' US movie (modest budget, even more modest marketing, no A-list stars) that is as good as anything produced anywhere in the world. A young fellow leaves the US navy and seeks out his father, who he's never met. He tracks Dad down to find that he's become a pastor in a born-again Christian church and now has a family of his own. I'll not reveal anything of what follows but will say that what develops is unexpected, shocking and totally gripping. OK, you get a sense that it will all end in tears but this is genuinely powerful stuff. Gael García Bernal is excellent (another Martin Sheen?) as is the rest of the cast. William Hurt, his glamorous male lead days behind him, demonstrates once again that he is an actor of real quality and ability – long may he continue to play similar cameo roles. I mentioned Bernals similarity to the young Martin Sheen previously. The King has some comparisons to 'Badlands' which blew me away all those years ago and I believe that this is as good a film. You need a slightly strong stomach but this is a powerful film for adults and I recommend it highly.

I just rented this movie lately, not really knowing what to expect. The movies I wanted to rent were already gone, so that meant just picking a couple random movies... and pray they are decent. My wife and I watched this and were pleasantly surprised! This movie was great. In a world of constantly recycled movie plots, this one was actually original. And to top it off, it was very entertaining. This movie has a very subtle suspense/ tension feeling to it. It makes you want to keep watching to see what is going to happen. And when something does happen, you really didn't expect it.

I don't really want to give out any details on this movie, or spoil it for anyone. All I will say is that this movie is a very good rental. Do yourself a favor and go rent this.

Just saw this film as part of the Seattle International Film Festival and I found it very well made. I go to plenty of festival films and most are truly dreck. This was a nice surprise. While the story goes a couple of steps too far in terms of reality, viewed as old fashioned Greek drama, it was quite exhilarating. The story hits many high points and keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering when characters will catch up with the audience. The acting among the principal players was highly consistent with the characters they set up and were actually believable when circumstances became overly dramatic -- even the daughter's actions made some sense when considering her "place" in the family and how much she was actually marginalized by her father. I would also say that Hurt deserves another nomination after the one he got last year for "The History of Violence" (another true gem). Plus, Bernal gives his most convincing performance yet -- very smart of him NOT to play this character in a very obvious way!

THE KING (2006) **1/2 Gael Garcia Bernal, William Hurt, Pell James, Laura Harring, Paul Dano. Disturbing and dark morality tale about a young man (Garcia Bernal continuing to be his generation's Brando) coming into the lives of a pastor (Hurt in one his best roles of his career) and his family, claiming to be his long-lost son and attempting to fulfill his birthright with deadly results. Novice filmmaker James Marsh (who co-wrote the screenplay with Milo Addica) gets the message across in a decidedly clumsy and hard-to-swallow histrionics yet the talented cast outshines the film's downward spiral of despair. James, best known as the only female who treated Bill Murray with civility in "Broken Flowers", proves to be a young talent to watch suggesting a latter day Diane Lane.

There is a similarity in the idea of search and redemption in both these films In, The King you pretty much know which way things will go until the end. Gael's (brilliant as usual) performance does hold out some hope of redemption, but the film is darker than Le fils where, however, the viewer in an absolutely creepy and uncomfortably (man obsessed with boy) state of suspense and terror till the end. Le fils is a more successful film, I believe, but The King is more thoughtfully written, directed and produced. I just found an odd similarity in the themes of both films. I was deeply touched at the end of Le fils; merely saddened at the end of The King. Tears for the former; "Well, OK....hmm", for the latter. Both definitely worth a watch though.