DVD Review - Twentynine Palms
Published October 10, 2005
At times it brings to mind nothing less than the opening of Godard's Weekend, that tracking shot going on for an age, and then, eventually, we see that carnage on the roadside, and it flings the whole thing into perspective.
So Dumont has us crawling long that road, and then the carnage, and then the horrors make sense.
Flicking through the note-book, what I come to realize is that yeah, I fucking loved Twentynine Palms. I noted that it takes a lot of patience, that it feels a bit like Gus Van Sant's recent dalliances with the contemplative moods and what not.
Like Elephant, especially. The sloth-like pace granted heartbreaking resonance in light of the horror at the end.
Is Elephant a horror film? Probably not, it's a drama that has a buncha horrible things going on.
Twentynine Palms, though, is designed to unsettle, to quietly unease before loudly horrifying, and Dumont readily admits that the atmosphere is what's important, not the characterization or the script or much of anything else.
And it's impeccable, aye, the cinematography is spellbinding, even if those spells turn out to be the sort resulting in a toad for a head and an arsefull a hellfire. The sound design is incredible, it's the sounds as they happened, and so sometimes even the hum of the equipment is audible, but fuck it, it helps stir that ol' bubblin in the belly.
And talking to a lass in a White Stripes t-shirt, I'm saying about yeah, I think this is something incredibly special, this Twentynine Palms tomfoolery, I'm thinking I woulda put up with those drunken students if i hada known the reward was something like this.
And she says but you wouldn't have known, and anyway, you seen it now so no sense thinking anything of the sort.
Yeah. Still. I mighta got lucky with a lady with strong opinions on The War.
Thanks folks.
Twentynine Palms is available on PAL DVD via Tartan Video.
The Duke resides at Mondo Irlando
The Duke (Aaron McMullan to his parents and the clergy) is a Northern Irish writer, performer and insomniac currently residing in London. He is the creator of Mondo Irlando, wherein his scribblings and hollerings can be found. He is currently working towards the completion of his first novel, and his debut "punk / country / folk / whatever" album has recently been released by Ex Libris Records . You can also pop by His MySpace Page and maybe have a coffee and a biscuit.
- DVD Review - Twentynine Palms
- Published: October 10, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Art House, Video: Drama, Video: Foreign Language, Video: Horror
- Writer: Duke De Mondo
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- Duke De Mondo's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
oh come now, t'was a wonderfully hypnotic affair, no? and any trouble with geographical conerns are probably my fault here. mind you, i DID take the whole Joshua Tree stuff from interviews and the like.
but i get the suspision maybe your problem here is that the flick is French, rather than having any sorta particular issue with the content. Which is really your problem, with all due respect, and not much Dumont coulda done about that. Also, you talk like he's attacking America or something, rather than presenting it with nothing but awe. but regardless, thanks for chipping in!
and i can't help looking at your comment about "the french don't understand the concept of defence" and wondering to myself about when France was last invaded... um...
I think that maybe if the film was produced by an American it would've acurately captured the essance of us Americans. True enough, nowadays, I do have a problem with the French because of their disgusting stance against the unprecedented display of terror but I have always hated their films.. It would've been more realistic if Dumont actually made a film about the military considering those people make up most of the population of 29 palms not people joyriding talking about sex..In a way he is attacking America, Our Senses!! Like I said Artsy Fartsy Crap. Their laxed approach at helping out the US even though we have bailed them out before but it's still okay to make money off their crud that they export to our beloved country.
I'm sorry you see it as just a movie review...
Duke, fine review as always. Yet another reason I should dish out the cash for a region free DVD player.
Guppusmaximus, chill is the word. Tis a review of a movie, not a critique the countries military action, or inaction as the case may be.
And the French have made a number of rather good, er fantastic films. Have you actually seen this one? It sounds like the man made a darn fine piece of horror cinema. Who cares if he got a little geography wrong? And I'm quite sure plenty of military folks do a good deal of driving and sexing.
Sorry for the rant, Duke. Folks knocking a country I rather love for none other than not waging war, kind of gets to me.
Duke:
Great review, haven't seen it but it sounds pretty fucking good to me.
Maximum Guppy:
Here's you-
RRRRRRRrrrr the French!
They make me so mad! If they don't quit selling wine to terrorists and putting one movie every two years into limited release here, in MY COUNTRY...
Buncha artsy farts!
RRRRRRRrrrr the French!
I hate'm so much! Damn French...
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Some more French artsy fartsy crap,huh??What do the french know about 29 Palms?Or horror flicks for that matter... Obviously nothing because 29 palms isn't a "Joshua Tree" desert in L.A. 29 Palms is a town in Southern California closer to Palm Springs where most of the deserts have Joshua Trees but they also have Cactus,Choa Plants,etc.. Also, Joshua Tree is another town not too far from 29 Palms. Anyways, Dumont should've made a military movie instead considering the biggest US Marine installment is located in 29 Palms...Oh yeah, that's right...The French don't understand the concept of defense. No matter how much bragging or overrating people do, this is a film that should've stayed overseas!