God's Lonely Man

Thank God this great film came to Mexico. It's the kind of movie that deserved better luck in the whole world. The history is terrific and touching, it's about a lonely junkie in his way to self-destruction, then he knows a girl as troubled as him, who -someway- gives hope to his life. It's by far the best 90's update for Scorsese's "Taxi Driver", and the "romantic" story reminds me of Luc Besson's "Leon". A must see if you like movies for a reason beyond pure entertainment.

What makes Indie films so fantastic is that there is such of pool of them to choose from, and a lot are so original, which heralds some new and talented directors, a lot of them, young pups. This one is unflinching, frank, in your face movie, about one guy's unfeasible escape from loneliness, where again we have that stereotypical profile of a loner, who can't build up the courage to ask Justine Bateman out. Our loner hero character, Ernest, a Travis Bickle for the Nineties, works at a video shop, Bateman's dad owns. Like a lot of loners, he displays all the traits of loners: unease around strangers, a movie buff, a bragger, an inability to ask girls out, self conscious tendencies, as well as violent mood swings, as well as a taste for violence. A young girl befriends him, where soon he's her protector, whatever, where he becomes killer/crusader. He rescues the young girl from her abusive environment, and tracks down some bad dudes, who used the girl at a younger age in skin flicks, where for her sister, it didn't have such a happy ending. There are some disturbing moments in this confronting film, where we meet some pretty sick puppies who were responsible for these flicks (you'll never look at Sixteen Candle's Paul Dooley the same way again) They also involved snuff, where I must say, one scene, just thinking of it now, involving two players, a mother and daughter, expendables, sickened me, sending a bad swallow through me. It's a great moment of revenge, watching Ernest do away with these creeps. GLM was directed by someone who had a fancy three word name, and what he's created here, is an excellent daring piece, that of course won't appeal to everyone, though loners will of course identify with. There is some disturbing violence, one, involving self mutilation. For the Indie or Art-house connoisseur, you will no doubt like or love this one. It's in the cards. A excellent film with an all too frank reality. Highly recommended.

An intense and touching performance by Michael Wyle drives God's Lonely Man, a gritty powder keg of a film that plays like an updated west coast version of Taxi Driver, its most obvious influence. Indeed, some may dismiss God's Lonely Man as nothing more than a pastiche but I strongly disagree. The central performance by Michael Wyle is reason enough to see the film—he has the uncanny ability to go from Deniro-like intensity to almost Woody Allenesque neurosis in the blink of an eye; it's an entirely convincing piece of acting and his tortured-loser persona had me rooting for him from the first reel to the end credits.

Paul Dooly shows courage for taking the part of a creepy child pornographer and Tom Towles proves he can do more to suggest hidden depths of depravity in one scene than most actors can in an entire film.

The writing is good, the characterizations dead-on and there are some genuinely unnerving touches that set a tone for mid 90s Los Angeles that is every bit as decayed and frightening as anything seen in the New York of Taxi Driver or Bringing Out the Dead. In contrast to those two films, which are steeped in darkness & the stylings of noir, most of God's Lonely Man transpires in the daytime--but the sunlight provides no comfort or protection. It's a nightmare world of Porno shops and AA meetings where sirens scream on the soundtrack at unexpected times accompanied by the sound of children crying while crack-dealers abuse their customers in sleazy passive-aggressive power games.

A scene set in a baseball-park where a child pornographer peddles his wares (right during the little league game he is coaching) carries a slimy, unsettling edge that reminded me of the fiction of Andrew Vachss in its depiction of evil lurking just under the surface of wholesome everyday appearances.

The violence, when it comes, isn't as over the top or nightmarishly gory as Taxi Driver but it packs a wallop.

My first thoughts after seeing this movie was a mixture of excitement and appreciation;after a while I still think that that's one of the best films I have ever seen.The movie is about Ernest,a lonely and suicidal drug user with an excellent performance by Michael Wyle.Ernest is a strange,depressed and mostly an insecure person who looks for a bit of love.he is fired from his job after harassing the daughter of his boss and begins something like a journey of self-redemption when he joins a 15 year old hooker who lost her sister to a gang that produces and sells snuff films.throughout their relationship Ernest is functioning as a guarding angel to Christiane,but as to himself his mind moves from reality to illusions,until the surprising but unavoidable ending. The movie was so chilling and depressing that it leaves you empty spiritually and emotionally;a movie that should have got a better recognition,but yet,it's not too late to get acquainted with it.

I find this film excellent. The depiction of Ernest's isolation and loneliness where haunting. Especially the scene where in order to feel something anything he cuts his own finger off.

The plot is similar to Taxi driver with an ending equally unclear. It appears that Ernest loses his scruples over Christiane being underage and ends up having a relationship with her. The scene where she has toothpaste smeared over her mouth at the end is very erotic. Heather McComb although 19 at the time played a very believable 14 year old.

The scene where Ernest takes revenge on the killer's of Christanes sister was effective. Overall a Lolita movie with perverse themes as snuff and peepshow and drug abuse. Child prostitution is also highlighted.

Overtoons of Christianne F. and Taxi driver.

Would like to know more about the directer Frank Von Zerneck Jr. It appears to be the only film he ever made. I wonder if he was as weird as his film.

Still i like weird Lolita films and this was a great one.

Jimq