IO9 Review Retroactive

Revision as of 05:27, 6 October 2011 (view source)

Latest revision as of 05:30, 6 October 2011 (view source)

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''Retroactive'' is an uneven movie. Beautiful cinematography is coupled with some oddly framed dialogue, with characters speaking off-frame. The performances are decent, but all over the map. From Whaley's standard-but-always-fun "say ‘what' one more goddamn time" stammering confusion to Belushi's more-is-more psycho Elvis to the Blood Simplicity of M. Emmet Walsh, the Tennessee Williams histrionics of Shannon Whirry and the detached cynicism of Kylie Travis, the film feels more like a series of screen tests than a cohesive whole.

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Check out these clips on YouTube to get a general sense of the tone from which Retroactive strays not far.

+

Check out these clips on YouTube to get a general sense of the tone from which ''Retroactive'' strays not far.

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80deaguo1ZQ&feature=player_embedded|Clip 1]

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YnrKtVwQAE&feature=player_embedded|Clip 2]

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But for its unevenness and its heavy levels of Belushiness, ''Retroactive'' does have some interesting thoughts to share about the similarities between time travel and psychotherapy. Karen explains to Frank and Rayanne that the essence of psychotherapy is examining your past life and imagining what you would do differently given a second chance. Who among us couldn't make good use of a 20 minute do-over button?

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Yet, as the film progresses through its cycles of repetition and variation, we see that having more and more information in life doesn't always lead to better decisions or better outcomes. As Karen's machinations fail time and time again, the situation with Frank gets worse and worse, involving ever more people. The analogy to the common psychoanalytic insight that mistakes are not so easy to correct and that living in the past only harms the future shine through the story like a polished silver belt buckle.

−

Unfortunately, the psychoanalytic analogy is undermined by the extreme caricature that is Frank. A more nuanced character could have provided more interesting variations on the story, but as it stands what we see are repeated attempts to muzzle a mad dog. Frank is so utterly predictable, it doesn't take a time machine to figure him out. All that said, Retroactive is an enjoyable ride worth taking once. Once.

+

Unfortunately, the psychoanalytic analogy is undermined by the extreme caricature that is Frank. A more nuanced character could have provided more interesting variations on the story, but as it stands what we see are repeated attempts to muzzle a mad dog. Frank is so utterly predictable, it doesn't take a time machine to figure him out. All that said, ''Retroactive'' is an enjoyable ride worth taking once. Once.

Latest revision as of 05:30, 6 October 2011

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@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ''Retroactive'' is an uneven movie. Beautiful cinematography is coupled with some oddly framed dialogue, with characters speaking off-frame. The performances are decent, but all over the map. From Whaley's standard-but-always-fun "say ‘what' one more goddamn time" stammering confusion to Belushi's more-is-more psycho Elvis to the Blood Simplicity of M. Emmet Walsh, the Tennessee Williams histrionics of Shannon Whirry and the detached cynicism of Kylie Travis, the film feels more like a series of screen tests than a cohesive whole.
-Check out these clips on YouTube to get a general sense of the tone from which Retroactive strays not far.
+Check out these clips on YouTube to get a general sense of the tone from which ''Retroactive'' strays not far.
 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80deaguo1ZQ&feature=player_embedded|Clip 1]
 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YnrKtVwQAE&feature=player_embedded|Clip 2]
 But for its unevenness and its heavy levels of Belushiness, ''Retroactive'' does have some interesting thoughts to share about the similarities between time travel and psychotherapy. Karen explains to Frank and Rayanne that the essence of psychotherapy is examining your past life and imagining what you would do differently given a second chance. Who among us couldn't make good use of a 20 minute do-over button?
@@ Line 19: / Line 18: @@
 Yet, as the film progresses through its cycles of repetition and variation, we see that having more and more information in life doesn't always lead to better decisions or better outcomes. As Karen's machinations fail time and time again, the situation with Frank gets worse and worse, involving ever more people. The analogy to the common psychoanalytic insight that mistakes are not so easy to correct and that living in the past only harms the future shine through the story like a polished silver belt buckle.
-Unfortunately, the psychoanalytic analogy is undermined by the extreme caricature that is Frank. A more nuanced character could have provided more interesting variations on the story, but as it stands what we see are repeated attempts to muzzle a mad dog. Frank is so utterly predictable, it doesn't take a time machine to figure him out. All that said, Retroactive is an enjoyable ride worth taking once. Once.
+Unfortunately, the psychoanalytic analogy is undermined by the extreme caricature that is Frank. A more nuanced character could have provided more interesting variations on the story, but as it stands what we see are repeated attempts to muzzle a mad dog. Frank is so utterly predictable, it doesn't take a time machine to figure him out. All that said, ''Retroactive'' is an enjoyable ride worth taking once. Once.