Jericho Mansions

I agree with the previous comment regarding this film as an attempt to merge European sensibilities .. and I might I say, as a genre piece this works very well. Much better than most of the studio crap being tossed about. I felt Mr. Caan's performance was intense and incendiary; tragic and tortured.

I was impressed by this film. If you enjoy fantastic, interesting cinematography and the lush pulp of a thriller picture, I highly recommend this one. That said, it does have its limitations. But it is an effectively powerful flick overall. I feel what has been referred to as "roller coaster" cinematography and moving the camera as these filmmakers have done, established a visual empowerment for the viewer that makes this seemingly direct-to-video indie a compelling watch.

Without a doubt this is the best movie that I've seen in a very long time. The Story centers around the agoraphobic, amnesiac superintendent of an apartment building called, as you guessed, Jericho Mansions. When one of the residents is murdered, dark secrets come out and wounds from his past are reopened. What secrets do the walls of Jericho Mansions contain?

To avoid spoilers, that's the best I can give you for plot. Kept me guessing until the very end in true thriller fashion. For a change the twist ending was completely unexpected and very well done. All the actors, especially James Cann, gave great performances. I do wish some of the characters had more screen time, but that wasn't a huge problem. The CGI effects left a lot to be desired, but the idea behind them was pretty good.

Overall this is a great mystery that sucks you in right from the opening. I found it in a bargain bin for $5, and if you happen to be browsing through just such a bin I highly recommend picking this up. Amazing film that deserves a lot more recognition.

9/10

Leonard Grey (James Caan) has been the super of the apartment building Jericho Mansions owned by Lily Melnick (Geneviève Bujold) for thirty year. Leonard is slow and agoraphobic, having also frequent amnesia, and dedicates his leisure time to build a complex bridge with clips. When the husband of the landlady Lily dies and she receives a call from her sister that lives in Europe, Lily rebukes Leonard and tries to force him to be fired or arrested by the police, forging evidences that he is a thief. However, most of the dwellers like Leonard and he stays working in the building. When Bill Cherry (Peter Keleghan), the husband of the masseuse Donna Cherry (Jennifer Tilly) and lover of the Spanish Dolores O'Donell (Maribel Verdú), is murdered in Jericho Mansions during the night, the police investigate the murder and there are many suspects, including Dolores's betrayed husband Eugene (Bruce Ramsay); Lily and Leonard. However, Jericho Mansions hides a dark and cruel secret.

"Jericho Mansions' is one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen, and I liked it. The intriguing story develops the bizarre characters very well and has a totally unexpected plot point, when a gruesome and very dark secret is disclosed and the viewer discloses one of the most cruel and repulsive villains of the cinema history. The acting is superb, highlighting Geneviève Bujold and James Caan, and this movie is underrated in IMDb. If you are seeking an original story with a surprising twist, rent or buy this DVD and I bet you will like this movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Condomínio" ("The Condominium")

This film is so bad it's definitely good. A decent cast led by James Caan & Genevieve Bujold, a tortured script and one of the best buildings ("Jericho Mansions") in cinema since "the Bates Mansion" of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic black comedy "Psycho." I would not be the least surprised if this perfect bomb eventually became a cult classic. Maybe if it could get an extended Halloween run at an Art House cinema in Cambridge (MA)? The dialog is pure camp and the cinematography is so confusing and disjointed that a viewer could begin wondering if their sanity could really be counted upon if reality were to be ever so slightly tweaked. In spite of all this it miraculously, somehow, works! From one bad scene to the next one finds oneself, almost hypnotically, waiting to see what will happen next.

To avoid including any spoilers I will not comment on the plot. Basically, it probably can be categorized as belonging to the "Mystery" genre but this does not do it full justice as it has aspects of comedy, both black, screwball and otherwise, as well as farce and satire.

I would not hesitate to recommend this one to anyone looking for an escape from the mind numbing mainstream cinema that is afflicting the public in these times.

"Jericho Mansions" is a seriously eccentric indie thriller with a surprising amount going for it. Acting heavyweights James Caan and Geneviève Bujold are both featured in inspired late career turns. Caan gives a nuanced, intricate performance as the mistreated handyman for an apartment building. Bujold reaches for the rafters as a wrathful landlord that despises Caan and wants to see him put away. They're really fun to watch together, with the always welcome bonus of Jennifer Tilly to add to the camp and surreality.

In addition to the strong performances, this arty film sports an elaborate visual style that punches way beyond its meager budget. There's even unusually effective use of CGI to explore the building's cavernous interiors. There's probably a little too much going on in this very ambitious movie: it can be tough to keep track of the apartment dwellers and their significance to the story. Still, things wrap up with a bang (!) and I was thoroughly satisfied.