|
How entertaining? ★★★☆☆
Thought provoking? ★☆☆☆☆ 28 July 2007
This article is a review of DISTURBIA. |
"Where are the coffee and doughnuts? You can't have a stakeout without coffee and doughnuts" Ashley
You’ve got to hand it to Hitchcock. Every time there is a possibility his immeasurable influence seems to be slipping from the collective memory, out pops a film that reminds us. Think FIGHT CLUB and the PSYCHO remake.
DISTURBIA is not in the same league as the magnificent FIGHT CLUB, but is a well-made riff on REAR WINDOW that has a bold opening and possible, interesting allegorical aspirations.
The premise, like its forbear, is brutally simple. Teenager Kale (Shia LaBeouf) has been traumatised, and a seemingly good kid has gone off the rails into repeated delinquency. One transgression too many lands him under house-arrest for his summer vacation. He is low-jacked with an ankle-tag that will alert the police if he leaves the house for more than ten seconds.
You’ve got to hand it to Hitchcock. Every time there is a possibility his immeasurable influence seems to be slipping from the collective memory, out pops a film that reminds us. Think FIGHT CLUB and the PSYCHO remake.
DISTURBIA is not in the same league as the magnificent FIGHT CLUB, but is a well-made riff on REAR WINDOW that has a bold opening and possible, interesting allegorical aspirations.
The premise, like its forbear, is brutally simple. Teenager Kale (Shia LaBeouf) has been traumatised, and a seemingly good kid has gone off the rails into repeated delinquency. One transgression too many lands him under house-arrest for his summer vacation. He is low-jacked with an ankle-tag that will alert the police if he leaves the house for more than ten seconds.
|
|
|
Amazon UK
|
Amazon USA
|
Like James Stewart, he starts to go stir crazy, and begins to spy on his neighbours for kicks. There is the secretive amorous goings on opposite, the street tearaways, and then a girl his own age moves in next door - where he proceeds to perve over her through his binoculars. Oh yeah, and there is a seriously dodgy neighbour (David Morse) – could he be a serial killer the police are looking for?
The film uses deft short-hand to establish characters, that are hardly new but at least aren’t annoying. I was wondering what all the fuss was about rising star LaBeouf after annoying turns in CONSTANTINE and I,ROBOT, but this year he has delivered the one-two-three punch of A GUIDE TO RECOGNISING YOUR SAINTS, TRANSFORMERS and DISTURBIA; demonstrating his versatility and quiet charisma. He is ably supported by Aaron Yoo (Ronnie - Kale’s best mate), Sarah Roemer ‘s girl next door, Ashley, Carrie-Ann Moss as his mum (how can the lovely Ms. Moss be playing mums already? – THE MATRIX was only eight years ago), and David Morse. Morse, like Raymond Burr in REAR WINDOW, is a large man who can play both soft (THE GREEN MILE, CONTACT) and hard (16 BLOCKS), which makes him ideal as either a docile neighbour or nutty killer.
What elevates DISTURBIA above the typical, are the words of Morse’s Mr. Turner, “The world is in a heightened state of paranoia”. By commenting on modern paranoia, the characters and setting seem like metaphors. Kale is America. The traumatic experience of 9/11 caused it to lash out. The authorities (i.e. the United Nations and much of the world) have chastised the entering of Iraq, as a step too far, which has led to isolation. Turner represents terrorism/Iran/North Korea, but they who cried wolf over weapons of mass destruction are now not so readily believed. The neighbourhood is not as safe as once perceived.
Story-wise, nothing new (see MONSTER HOUSE, THE BURBS, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, etc.), and the gratuitous product placement is grating; though the opening is a cracking sucker-punch which hooks you in, while the plotting, pacing and performances are kept tight to make this a very enjoyable Hollywood thriller. I like the title too.
|
|
We have selected movies below that we think will be of interest to you based on this review.
Using these Amazon affiliated links help us keep Filmaluation free for all film and arts lovers.
Amazon UK
|
|
|
|
|
Amazon USA
|
|
|
|
|