Final Cut

I watched the DVD last evening and found myself for the first time on hundreds of films fast-forwarding through most of it.

How in heavens' name can it be said that these were secretly taped scenes when half the time the subject is making google-eyes at the camera like some 12 year old?

I really think I may have seen better home videos of kids' birthday parties (surely more genuine). (Or was the 'tinkling' in the bathroom supposed to be some kind of 'high spot?')

This film is so bitter, it does not surprise me most of the comments are negative. Yet, what I saw was a big, dumbfounding answer to all these so called "reality shows" around us on tv, that we all watch so willingly.

You see, there is a huge difference between being AWARE that you are being watched and not knowing it. No one can be true when he / she is consious of being watched AND THEREFORE JUDGED.. That why this is not likeable: reality bites.

What we see is people as they REALLY are. The fact that they are forced to face their true selves leaves every single one of them devastated - even Sadie. The undeniable revelation of their self pretense crushes everyone. Even the dead -Jude- is revealed to himself and the rest, this game has gone out of his hands.

Yet, there is an objection: the film somehow finally crushes all human relationships by not making clear that not ALL people act this way. Somehow the point seems to be that we should loose faith in any friendship and all relationships in general. This is why there should be a much clearer grading of people and situations.

Jude is dead(and not in this all that much). At his funeral(note that there are almost no real introductions, you're just there and you gradually figure out what is going on, what you're seeing), his widow Sadie asks that the group of friends and couples sit down and watch the movie he was working on, and that they allow themselves to be filmed(and for some reason, while they do behave like there's a camera near them some of the time(and these operators appear to not know how to zoom, so they shove it into their subjects face instead), about half the time, they apparently completely forget it; yeah, some of this utterly falls apart beyond restoration when you stop to think about it). It turns out to be a documentary, assembled largely from footage captured with hidden recorders(there are a few interviews), and that is what we follow, as well... the two layers of fiction pretending to be fact. It'd probably work better if there were more reaction shots. Anyway, secrets come out and we see how their relationships are(are they playing themselves? Possibly). I should clarify something; this didn't bother me from the cruelty of the stunt, and the "different" style didn't ruin this for me... make your piece however you feel it should, and don't let people complain just because it isn't mainstream. The thing is, this really had potential... and still does. I'm sure this wanted to make some significant point, though it didn't get there. Yes, this is nihilistic and cynical... I didn't mind that. Others will. The pace is uneven and this comes off rather unfocused. You know, what little exposure to reality shows(yes, I hate them; that wasn't my issue with this) I've had, they actually do have plot lines and encourage continued viewing... this comes off as not wanting you to watch. I mean, you feel bad about it. OK, maybe that was the idea. If it was either real, or credible through the entire thing, maybe it would still work. Or if it didn't eventually go for a coherent story structure, at the end when it also stops being believable(and don't get me started on the anti-climax). The "twist" is so predictable you're sitting there wondering if they're serious. Winstone dominates this unchallenged... and yes, he(and the other men in this) delivers a great performance(good thing, because the women do *not*). The man is quite imposing... but you need counterweight. Some of these characters *really* don't need to be there, you could cut them out and you wouldn't miss them at all. None of them are wholly likable. This has a lot of improvisation and they used the first takes(they would add content if something was reshot... it shows). The editing is reasonable. This has odd framing and this feels "natural"(...a bit of the way, at least), with fast talking and slang(you'd better be British or have better subtitles than the copy I got as a gift did). There is a ton of strong language, a little bloody violence, disturbing content(this is gross at times) and sexuality and brief male nudity in this. The DVD comes with 8 trailers for different flicks, one of them for this. I recommend this low-budget 87 minute(sans credits) indie to those who merely want to see the concept of witnessing humanity's true ugliness... regardless of how well-executed it is. 6/10

I recently watched Final Cut on video. I thought that some of the camera work was very clever and, to me, original. I was very intrigued by the premise of somebody making a film by manipulating friends as well as recording them on a candid camera. However I was hugely disappointed. The idea of letting the actor's improvise is very good, if the director/writer are able to distill that into a sharp image for the audience. I felt that that was where Final Cut falls down heavily. Ray Winstone was forced? /allowed? to dominate the film in a way which ended up as being very unbalanced.On the other hand it appeared that others were left to flounder and turn in some very hackneyed work. Some scenes worked while a large number were, for me completely irrelevant. In a number of areas my impression was that a very good and interesting premise was ruined by a lack of discipline on the part of those behind the fim.

The premise of Final Cut is interesting. A man (Jude Law) dies

and leaves behind a film for his friends to watch at his wake. His

wife (Law's real life spouse Sadie Frost) is the Mistress of

Ceremonies at this screening but we find out later that she is

much more than that. The performances are riveting and the slow

build of tension is tittilating but the pay off is a little disappointing.

some of the violence and shock is laced with a sense of humor at

first but soon it gets very serious then downright careless and

callouse. It is hard to root for any of these characters to succeed.

They seem to have no redeeming value so when something bad

happens to them you are relieved but the punishment is so easily

shaken off. Lots of mischief, revelation and loss but no hope or

redemption.