All the Rage

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.

To be taken seriously only as political satire. Quite humorous and edgy, with a sharp script, but spotty continuity in the narrative. Almost more a cartoon than a good story.

None of the characters are believable, which is OK, as they seem to be distillations of types. All of the men in this film are horrible--I wouldn't want a friend or a relative among them. Women are treated as victims, more or less, what spare representation there is of women, though both Joan Allen and Anna Paquin are wonderful in these highly stylized roles.

Jeff Daniels's performance, as are those of most of the other men, are masterpieces of underacting. Gary Sinise and Giovanni Ribisi are given grand opportunities to chew up the scenery, which one may have every expectation either will do, literally, at any moment.

It seems to me this is also less about guns than it is about how guns are a horrible and all too real manifestation of those things--far more terrible and dark--that may have become by now an inalterable part of the American (that is, the U.S. American) character. Some other themes, besides casual (and not so casual) violence--twisted attitudes toward sexuality, the vagaries of the over-hot infotech culture, and our inability to perceive our own psychological deficiencies--are not well integrated.

Excellent acting, sly intertwining of modern characters, and escalating suspense make this movie intriguing and very watchable, despite the sophomoric and "in-your-face" anti-gun agenda that is as subtle as a lead balloon.

"...Rage" focuses on a motley bunch of underdeveloped and loosely interconnected characters who have a common denominator: The hand gun. A marginally entertaining film at best, the flick seems to be trying to make some sort of statement about hand guns. However, it's not likely that a film which can't deliver quality entertainment can deliver meaningful social commentary. "...Rage" is not to be taken seriously on any level if taken at all.

"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.