comment #1

SnarfTheFierce says ...

I haven't seen a single Solondz movie--not even Welcome To The Dollhouse--for basically all of these reasons. I know that might make me a bit of an uninformed observer, but his films strike me as bad news. Especially for the neurotic and clinically obsessive.

comment #2

JohnCope says ...

Maybe, but Dollhouse at the least is a great movie.

comment #3

DeafBrownTrashPunk says ...

WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE is such an amazing, painful movie. It reminded me of my childhood and I didn't like that. but I will watch it again someday.

I haven't seen any of his other movies, though.

Your review made me feel the same way I felt when I saw TOWELHEAD. I was so depressed, that I actually wished I never heard of it. after it was over, I rushed off to watch a cheesy 80s comedy DVD to cheer myself up.

comment #4

Bullbrish says ...

Saw it last night. Thought half was beyond tedium (especially the ghost scenes and the Ally Sheedy scene). Some things did work. The scene where the dad visits his son at school was especially effective and believable.

Not nearly as good as Happiness, and a strange retread. Same characters played by an entirely new cast? To what purpose?

Didn't hate as much as Wells but was certainly happy to see it end. And it's only 93 minutes.

comment #5

Stringer Bell says ...

This guy reminds me of Harmony Korine in some ways.

They're both off their meds and making movies that no-one half normal wants to see.

comment #6

The Bandsaw Vigilante says ...

Not to derail the thread (whose comments about Solondz I largely happen to agree with, BTW)...but nothing from Jeff about The Swayze?

comment #7

BurmaShave says ...

Swayze is no doubt someone Wells considers to be an Eloi god, and not worthy of his mentioning.

comment #8

George Prager says ...

Watching a film made by Solondz is like listening to the music of Charles Manson.

comment #9

EdHavens says ...

It would make sense that Wartime is unwatchable, considering this is a sorta-sequel to the unwatchable Happiness, just as the barely watchable Palindromes is a sorta-sequel to the barely watchable Welcome to the Dollhouse.

What Solondz needs to do now is a Saw movie. Todd Solondz's Saw VII... now THAT might actually be interesting.

comment #10

George Prager says ...

Swayze's best performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooy0GFMYafY

comment #11

Famous Mortimer says ...

Although you did not stay until the end of the film, I value your criticism as it is point-by-point as opposed to a blanket dismissal, which is almost always a shortsighted move by any viewer or reviewer.

You make good points about the story's plausibility, redundancy, and alienating effect - whether you may eat your words later on is unimportant.

I value Solondzworld for its focus on the Jewish-American middle class and its drama e.g. the fetishizing of higher education, the blinkered support for Israel, and the belief that only human begins can forgive sins against human beings.

comment #12

Famous Mortimer says ...

*beings

comment #13

stockfilm says ...

Saw Life During Wartime at Telluride and it is brilliant. A deep meditation on forgiveness paired with amazing dark humor. An extraoridnary script that would work equally well on stage. Don't overlook that it was awarded Best Screenplay at Venice. Solondz elicits his own style of performance, similar to the Coen Bros or David Lynch.

The film is beautifully shot with the RED camera by Edward Lachman (I'm Not There) and the soundtrack has contributions from Beck and Devendra Banhart. What I'm getting at is that there are too many interesting, creative people (none of whom are just perverts or off their meds) collaborating on this film to simply dismiss it. This film has serious weight, others noticed and they got involved. The amazing cast speaks to that as well.

Totally understand if Solondz isn't your type of filmmaker, I personally haven't loved any of his films since Welcome to the Dollhouse. However, he certainly should not be dismissed, he is one of the most unique and dynamic voices in American cinema.

comment #14

lonniechung says ...

Feels like Solondz is working through some pretty heavy personal issues with most of his films. It's commendable but difficult to sit through. The funny thing is, in his quest for honesty all of the characters take on such a singular feel. I agree with Jeff that Solondz movies can often be boiled down into conversation after conversation of the same voice. In some way I think maybe Palindromes expressed this, albeit awkwardly (a pretty damn good movie though). His view of the world and humanity in general is ugly and bleak and most likely informed from firsthand experiences that you wouldn't wish on anyone. I never thought he was trying to shock anyone, he just wanted to see if it felt better if you said it out loud.

comment #15

RustysaGoodDog says ...

Don't always agree with Wells, but got to hand it to him, he says what he thinks without bowing to politics. A lot of critics and art types bow to the Solondz's of the world for fear of being unhip. Not our Wells. And thank goodness for that. The only thing worse than watching a Solondz film is being in the room with the numbskulls who tittle and giggle with an air of knowing at every little 'observation' on the screen.

comment #16

buckzollo says ...

I saw it and thought it was better than Solondz's other recent fare. Thankfully brief, but still funny dark and twisted, as expected. Actors are great and I suspect the point of some of the mismatched casting is the absurdity of it. I like it a tad bit more because it can really offend the blue hairs. Best criticism of it and Todd: "hey we actually are at war, he should get a fucking bicycle or go for a hike, what is this shit?!"

comment #17

Colin says ...

Review of the year!

I don't think people understand Solondz is just a terrible writer with no feel for dialogue, but critics misconstrue that as a satire of suburbia.

Maybe his masterpiece will have several children molested while their parents have a dinner party and make fun of starving children in Africa.

comment #18

anonymous2 says ...

I can understand not liking the movies but I got to say I feel like a lot of the complaints and criticisms are a little closed minded and frankly, Eloi-ish. Examples:

Watching a film made by Solondz is like listening to the music of Charles Manson.

They're both off their meds and making movies that no-one half normal wants to see.

Really? Solondz is that scary to you? If so, you're right your definitely not suited to enjoy one of his films because you'll be to afraid to laugh or cry. Well then again you might cry.

Can't wait to see this. I think Happiness is his best film. I've already got my tickets for NYFF. Does anyone think this will get distribution? Does it have it already?

comment #19

Big Black says ...

Rusty, really. The best you can come up with is that people who like any of Solondz's work are falsely 'knowing' and afraid of appearing 'unhip'? Pardon me, but you're absolutely full of shit, pal.

comment #20

Movie fan09 says ...

This is slightly off topic, but I figure since this is HE related slightly:

you know how you've been on a particular web site when you dream of the blogger commenting on it.

case in point:
dreamt I was watching(this was implied) a movie where Tom Hanks played a guy who is some sort of maniac who comes around every once in a while and with flame throwers at his side like an old west gunslinger (and a red sparkly leotard with a white faded lightning bolt across his chest) and wearing plastic goggles and somehow controls the mind of small town firefighters (this was shown by making a certain firefighter who was eating whipped cream by the can, over spray it into his mouth producing too much)and then a pretty girl in skimpy outfits parades into the firehouse, and then it turns into a HE blog posting where Jeff states that his aunt use to be a stripper and he begans talking about her story and how she finally stopping being one at 50 and how he always respected her for it.

it was weird..

no offense to JW.. this really happened in my dream.

comment #21

Movie fan09 says ...

'how you've been a particular site too much

comment #22

nemo says ...

"I left because the tall and large-boned Allison Janey could never be a sister to the tiny pipsqueak British actress Shirley Henderson -- not in a million fucking years."

Shirley Henderson is a tiny pipsqueak Scottish actress, but your point is well taken.

Henderson used her tiny pipsqueakness to great comic effect in the BBC series The Way We Live Now. The very tall Matthew Macfadyen plays a feckless dimwit with whom Henderson's character fancies she is in love. Every time the 6-foot 3-something Macfadyen shows up, the tiny Henderson hurls herself upon him like a squirrel upon a tree.

It was a lot more fun than any Solondz film I've heard of. I've only seen Welcome to the Dollhouse, and that was enough. How does he get such excellent actors to star in his movies, anyway? Heather Matarazzo seems like his perfect star, an actress wearing a perpetual Kick Me sign around her neck.

comment #23

ErrantElan says ...

Todd Solondz movies appeal to people who think they're smart just because they're not stupid.

comment #24

dinther says ...

Errant, that's a great line. I may use that one down the road, with your permission.

And I feel as tho some cool HE lingo has gone over my head: can someone please explain what is the meaning of "eloi"?

comment #25

Seal pup says ...

Nemo - in what respect is Jeff calling a Scottish actress 'British' incorrect?

comment #26

ErrantElan says ...

I was thinking that too, Seal pup.

Scotland is part of "Great Britian", whether they like it or not. Sir Sean sure doesn't.

comment #27

Chase Kahn says ...

dinter: "Eloi" go see "G.I. Joe" on opening weekend, they refuse to watch a movie with subtitles, and they are typically fat, unkempt, with a hunger for fast food -- because it's quick, fast and cheap, just like their movie tastes.

I think...there's also "Morlocks"...

comment #28

Chase Kahn says ...

sorry, it's dinther...

comment #29

Dan V. says ...

Eloi: From H.G Wels' The Time Machine. They're the stupid, lazy lemming-folk who live on the planet's surface and are being happily consumed by the subterranean Morlocks. Here, Eloi is used to describe the mass market idiots of Middle America or anyone else with less discerning/populist cinematic taste, a copy of Wild Hogs or a body fat percentage over 18%.

comment #30

Tom Reagan says ...

I hated Storytelling (or at least the second half which my film teacher made us watch), largely because Solondz just hates all his characters. And if a filmmaker hates all his characters, what's the point in writing them? Mind you, I'm not someone who doesn't enjoy watching unpleasant people--I just hate when the director/writer has no sympathy for them and wants to make them as horrible as possible. I hated everybody in "Non-Fiction," particularly that little 14 year old son of a bitch. When they all died at the end, I couldn't have been happier.

Whoever compared him to Harmony Korine, who I also hate, good call.

comment #31

Fat Boy says ...

new to the boards but long time lurker. felt compelled to comment in regards to dinther's "eloi" question.

both eloi & morlock are references to HG Well's novel The Time Machine. eloi are surface dwellers that live to consume, while the morlocks toil underground, doing all the manual labor. each is a degenerated form of human.

also, solondz is great. entertaining as hell & certainly intelligent. understandable why some are put off by his work but to say he's "making movies that no-one half normal wants to see" is definitely an overstatement.

comment #32

ErrantElan says ...

Solondz strikes me as the kid who, when he was around 13, overheard a conversation, or happened to read a review, what have you, celebrating an artist for one of the following vague, meaningless qualities:

being "risky"
being "dark"
being "uncompromising"
being controversial
and most importantly, tackling subject matters that the mainstream artists are too damn bourgeois or afraid to tackle!

His little eyes lit up and he said "I want to be that artist! People respect that kind of guy!"

Problem being, he doesn't understand that art also needs nuance, depth, intelligence, dimensionality, context....all qualities missing from his middlebrow ruminations on this, that, and the fucked-up other.

comment #33

Rich S. says ...

You guys forgot an important aspect of the Eloi-Morlock relationship that works into Jeffrey's analogy. The Morlocks toil and produce everything, which they then give to the Eloi, who can remain blissful and ignorant. The Eloi pay the Morlocks back by willingly providing some of their numbers for the cannibalistic Morlocks to eat.

So, the Eloi are as described. The Morlocks are the big corporations, and particularly big movie studios, who cannibalize the Eloi by taking their money for mindless entertainment.

comment #34

George Prager says ...

Shorter Famous Mortimer:

I like Solondz's movies because I kind of hate Jews and so does he.

comment #35

Postavant says ...

What's the point of writing something if you don't like your characters? Tom Reagan...that is one of the more stupid things I've read on this site...or anywhere...ever.

comment #36

dinther says ...

re: eloi. that is great - love the responses. love it when i learn some new trivia. thanks.

comment #37

jimtheindiefilmmaker says ...

I love the complaints from people here about characters/things not being plausible ...what ever happened to symbolism? metaphor? analogy? These comments remind of that great scene in "Diner" when Steve Guttenberg and Kevin Bacon are watching Bergman's "Seventh Seal" and Guttenberg asks, "Who's that?" and Bacon replies, "Death." Naturally, Guttenberg says, "I've been to the beach a thousand times and have never seen death walking there." All of you whiners prove why this country is cinematically illiterate, unadventurous, and, well, middlebrow (which is the worst insult of all). Not every movie this director makes is great or even good...but they're always interesting and that's all I think a true film lover should ask for...and living in Middle America, seeing "Palindromes" with a Christian right wing extreme audience shocked in horror was one of the best movie going experiences of my life.

comment #38

DeeZee says ...

I generally like Solondz' stuff, but it sounds like he's treading old ground this time.

Colin: "I don't think people understand Solondz is just a terrible writer with no feel for dialogue,"

He should insert entries from encyclopedias which take up ten minutes of screen time.

"Maybe his masterpiece will have several children molested while their parents have a dinner party and make fun of starving children in Africa."

I think South Park already covered those issues, albeit separately.

Movie fan: You should copyright that dream, 'cus Bay might steal it, too.

Errant: "Todd Solondz movies appeal to people who think they're smart just because they're not stupid."

I think you're confusing them with Soderbergh movies.

comment #39

Famous Mortimer says ...

@Prager

Yes, reading my post back sounds pretty distasteful. I apologize for any misunderstandings, but what I am getting at is the short supply of American filmmakers whose stories focus on character conflict stemming from that character's religious background/socioeconomic standing - Paul Schrader is one director, James Gray is another. I like Lucrecia Martel but she is Argentinian. All the same, I apologize again for my original post not being more polished.

comment #40

hunterd says ...

OF COURSE IT'S UNREAL! The whole thing is meant to be Brechtian. The point is to alienate the viewer from the world (which is, in and of itself, alienating) so that he or she can see the world anew.

It's not like this is even subtle.

comment #41

Famous Mortimer says ...

I forgot Alexander Payne. He is the less "icky" version of Solondz - targeting members of America's middle-class and revealing their values as the root cause of their conflicts.

comment #42

hunterd says ...

Also, Harmony Korine is a genius too.

Solondz does not hate his characters. He forces you to see them as human. Do you want to see a child rapist as a human? No. But it certainly makes for provocative drama to consider the actual humanity of men like this.

I think that Solondz films are just overflowing with humanity. His contention is that these are not freaks, these people are the mainstream of America. if his writing hurts, it's only because it hits too close to home.

comment #43

hunterd says ...

Of course, I also dig Catherine Breillat, Atom Egoyan, and Larry Clark so...

comment #44

Chris Willman says ...

I've been a Solondz hater in the past, but as much as I disliked "Happiness," that's how much I liked "Life During Wartime." Whatever else you might feel, most of the actors are doing fantastic work here, and I will say, as someone who's not big on digital, that it looks beautiful. I understand all the objections to the combination of realism and stylized snarkiness in the dialogue, because I've been there myself. But the thing just feels genuinely haunted, as well as prompting a few of the only times I've laughed out loud in a theater this year. I just don't feel he's above the characters so much this time, and that may have made the difference to me.

comment #45

dontlookback says ...

One of your all time best reviews, Mr. Wells. No mincing of words here.

Never been a Solondz fand, beyond "Welcome to the Dollhouse." Found "Happiness" to be pretty repugnant. Of course, it didn't help that my mom tried to watch it with me.

comment #46

bibliotechnician says ...

@dontlookback

Watching "Happiness" with your mom? Really? Now that is a true nightmare!

@hunterd

Well put. As much as i was repulsed by parts of "Happiness," I also glimpsed a side of the American landscape that is all too common in our world of sex offender registries and Chris Hanson specials. I'm not sure if that's good or bad for my psyche (or our society), but i found it much more interesting than most middle-america critiques that boil down to soap opera cliche for dramatic tension.

I think what generally makes people so apoplectic over Solondz is not that he hates his characters; it's just the opposite: he constructs empathy for them.

comment #47

Tom Reagan says ...

Thank you so much, Postavant. I did not know that my comment was "one of the stupidest on this website or any website...ever." By pointing this out to me, you have taught me how to see filmmaking in a new way. Thank you for your infinite wisdom.

comment #48

air nike shoes says ...

Shorter Famous Mortimer:

I like Solondz's movies because I kind of hate Jews and so does he.

comment #49

badpete says ...

Life during Wartime is the best book ive ever read!

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comment #50

badpete says ...

And it doesn't matter if Solondz agrees and wanted this scene to be seen as some kind of arch exercise

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comment #51

doublexjohn says ...

His work includes the cult hit Welcome to the Dollhouse, the award-winning Happiness, Storytelling, and Palindromes.

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comment #52

badpete says ...

Eloi: From H.G Wels' The Time Machine. They're the stupid, lazy lemming-folk who live on the planet's surface and are being happily consumed by the subterranean Morlocks.

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comment #53

badpete says ...

I love the complaints from people here about characters/things not being plausible .

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comment #54

badpete says ...

I think that Solondz films are just overflowing with humanity. His contention is that these are not freaks, these people are the mainstream of America

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comment #55

badpete says ...

i really do understand all the objections to the combination of realism and stylized snarkiness in the dialogue, because I've been there myself

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comment #56

badpete says ...

I hated Storytelling (or at least the second half which my film teacher made us watch), largely because Solondz just hates all his characters

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comment #57

badpete says ...

Don't always agree with Wells, but got to hand it to him, he says what he thinks without bowing to politics.

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comment #58

badpete says ...

Todd Solondz movies appeal to people who think they're smart just because they're not stupid.

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comment #59

badpete says ...

Watching a film made by Solondz is like listening to the music of Charles Manson.

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comment #60

naber says ...

Eloi: From H.G Wels' The Time Machine. They're the stupid, lazy lemming-folk who live on the planet's surface and are being happily consumed by the subterranean Morlocks.

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comment #62

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comment #63

badpete says ...

Errant, that's a great line. I may use that one down the road, with your permission.

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comment #64

doublexjohn says ...

can't wait to see this.
Solondz is so talented

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comment #65

badpete says ...

OF COURSE IT'S UNREAL! The whole thing is meant to be Brechtian. The point is to alienate the viewer from the world (which is, in and of itself, alienating) so that he or she can see the world anew.

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comment #66

atish says ...

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