The Box review

Since 2001 writer-director Richard Kelly has been a on-off topic in the film world. His debut film "Donnie Darko" has become a major cult classic of the 2000's. I've never quite understood why people love it so much, but there's something there they like. His follow up "Southland Tales" was a major two and half hour failure that hit a few theaters and then landed onto DVD with little notice. So this brings me to "The Box", his first studio film (his others were independent) and this is for me at least his best looking and functioning film. Based on the short story "Button, Button" by acclaimed writer Richard Matheson (author of "I Am Legend"), it tells the story of Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) as a happy family with their son, but who are coming upon some hard times financially. Enter Oscar nominated actor Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon") as Arlington Steward, a mysterious man with a massive facial disfigurement who wants to help the couple out.

The trailer gets that piece of the massive puzzle right, but that's about all it does properly. I really hate how mysteries get promoted these days... actually I generally hate the rap they get these days too. I suppose that's why do few actually get made. After the decision to press the button has ended yes several crazy things happen. However not in some lame-brained kinetic action climate as displayed on ads, but as steady unraveling of clues to the big picture. The trailer also has a lie in it, but I won't tell you what it is. "The Box" generally feels like a period movie in it's movements and tones which for this genre is something helpful. The film is set in 1976 and it flows like a mystery of that time, but with Kelly's love of David Lynch and Alan J. Pakula working within it. Also the film is beautifully shot in digital and works almost as well as "Zodiac" did look wise.

Another fantastic element is the perfect score done by the band The Arcade Fire (who's having a great year with this and having their song massively used to promote "Where the Wild Things Are"), that has the touch of Bernard Herrmann all over it. Performance wise Marsden and Langella were terrific as usual, but Diaz wasn't particularly bad herself. Sometimes the southern accent did flow in and out, but when it mattered she really got the job done. Kelly adapted the short story and made sure to use it as more of a bench mark for the rest of the story which spans into various bizarre and somewhat unknown reaches. This is NOT a conventional thriller about a couple being stalked. Just as "Knowing" was not a simple case of trying to stop the future disasters.

I connect both films because of a common thread. That thread is that both can easily be disliked or discarded because they're unconventional, somewhat challenging and utilize old school science fiction (not SCI-FI, there is a difference) . "Knowing" become a rough topic for me because I met virtually no one who liked it. I didn't argue about it, but I did notice that it was mainly people who just didn't seem to get/like the whole "Twilight Zone"-y vibe it had and also those who just didn't get the whole science fiction part. "The Box" is somewhat like that... but less "Twilight Zone" and more Kelly's own brand of old school science fiction and paranoid thriller elements; which are pretty damn cool to me.

The film manages to also answer... in it's own way the major questions while not hand delivering it to your door; something I've noticed more and more that people really like. There's no easy one word answer that sums it all up because there's so much in it. You can't try to fully understand Arlington Stewerd's actions without understanding why is here for example. I keep harping on this and I guess it'll be my final thought and summing up for this review; people don't really... dig into mystery stuff anymore and that sucks. If it can't pop out right in the trailer or seem totally bizarre then no one gives a shit and they look past it. Further more open mindedness when it comes to movies is also in a large degree spiraling into the shittier. The concept of a film that doesn't fly by the straight lines of it's genre isn't new and why people act as if it's a revelation is beyond me. I'm not asking people to like films like this, but simply to not dismiss them. As for "The Box" it's a terrific ride that's definitely worth seeing if you're not opposed to something out of the norm. And I'm glad I finally found a Richard Kelly film that I honest to God fully enjoyed.

"The Box" **** out of ****