All the Rage

"It's the Rage" is actually the title of this movie, which I saw the other night on cable, and it's an odd duck of a film, starting out with Jeff Daniels' character shooting a man in his living room. He explains to his horrified wife (Joan Allen) that the man was a burglar, but she discovers, with even more horror, that it's actually her husband's business partner. What the @#^k??! Then, some other characters are introduced, each one crazier than the other (played by Gary Sinese, Robert Forster, Anna Paquin, Giovanni Ribisi, all great). Then, the characters start interacting, in extremely clever, well-written ways. The one thing that unites these loonies is that they're all on the edge and they all have guns. (Is that two things?) Consider the possibilities. Or better yet, see the film.

This is another attempt by Hollywood to get the general public

incensed against guns. When the truth be known, Hollywood

wouldn't have a thing to write about and make movies about if it

weren't for guns. Take a moment and think about the movies you

have seen lately and long ago. Guns, Guns, and more guns. You

can count on one hand the 'driving miss daisy' type movies that

have come out of Hollywood. In this movie they don't want you to

pay attention to the lack of morals demonstrated by almost all of

the characters. Just think about the guns. The story was

interesting with the interplay of how the characters were at one

time or other involved with one another.The last good movie I saw

was 'Secondhand Lions'.

In a film all about guns, it doesn't take long before some blood is spilled. Part social commentary, part dark comedy, "All The Rage" finds its place just behind making a strong point about gun ownership and their use by the general American public. Making its world premiere at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival, this film touches upon issues like irreverence and obsession but doesn't dwell on the morality, inherent danger and potential for misuse.

Being a Canadian, I feel extremely fortunate to live in a country that is not infested with firearms and hope that will never change. The prevalent, ingrained element of guns in American society always exists as a threat to us, the Northern neighbours who live in awe of the lifestyles and death counts. We all fear that one day we may find ourselves in the same boat. If nothing else divides us, I hope at least that this will never change.

The cast features many established, well known and popular actors, some in drastic departures from what we're accustomed to seeing them in, and some not so much. Everyone seems to be putting forth the effort that would make any director proud, but somehow this directorial debut is lacking something.

The setting of the film feels almost like a cartoon comic strip with characters who behave in strange and often irrational ways. I feel this lack of a realistic backdrop takes away from the film's potential to deliver a strong message or generate much of an emotional response from the audience. Few of the film's realistic character portrayals lend enough to give the film's overall sense that of a serious one. Therefore, it's hard to take this film seriously. It wasn't terribly funny either. I hate to say it, but some of the most enjoyable elements of this film for me were the music selections, including a great opening song from Talking Head David Byrne. During the film festival, I tend to be more generous than usual, but I can't say this film won me over.

It's no accident that posters of Natural Born Killers and Reservoir Dogs decorate the walls of the video rental store. It's no accident that Gary Sinise looked strikingly similar to Bill Gates. It's no accident that Jeff Daniels complains about how much he hated a certain film. ("The plot was ridiculous. Get this: two thieves-- Hunnybunny and Pumpkin, a hitman eating a Hawaiian Burger while he's about to kill people, --I didn't buy it" he mutters.) ...and it's certainly no accident that the opening titles closely resemble those of another socially satiric commentary: Dr. Strangelove.

In a world hyper-saturated with media and mass mayhem, it's certainly no accident that a film like It's the Rage would hit the film scene with a piercing look at America's obsession with the second amendment. Without any regard for 'realism'-- the video clerk replies to Jeff Daniels' criticism with: "It's a movie, it doesn't have to make sense, I found that out"-- ITR follows a group of people through their control-obsessed lives as they single-handedly use and abuse each other. The handgun is the most common link, but there are others. Money, fidelity, television, theft, and isolation also fill the otherwise vacant lives of our nine characters.

The box looks like Magnolia, but what's inside is a very clear and scathing attack on Americans and their firearm addiction. Made in Canada by a first-time director, (and very skillfully at that) it's most directly a shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later look at Wayne LaPeirre and his legacy of legal weapons.

Tolka's advice: watch this one with your favorite die hard Republican friend, but do wear a bullet-proof-vest for the heated discussion to follow.

this film is different as a score of people discover things about themselves and others that they didn't know and how to use a gun.

at first i must admit it was a slow flick, but i like these movies where the point of view changes from one character to another with their own little side stories, only to find that they are all really connected.

this is a fun movie that deals with the reality of guns in the united states and how harmful they can be in the wrong hands. a terrific message put to use in a very strange story...i give it two thumbs up in the origionality department and another two thumbs up for anna paquin, who goes from the silent and scared ROGUE in the X-MEN movie, to a trashy whore who just happens to be underage and loving it.