Friday, November 06, 2009

The Curious Case of Button, Button: Director Richard Kelly Continues to Think Outside “The Box”

If you go and see "The Box" make sure you’re prepared to see the weirdest movie you’re likely to see. (Of course, if you go see "Antichrist" then it’ll probably be the second weirdest movie you’re likely to see). Director Richard Kelly who continues to make offbeat (read: strange) sci-fi-type movies. I wasn’t so much a fan of his cult classic "Donnie Darko" but a lot of people are. I didn’t’ have the pleasure (fortunately? Unfortunately?) of seeing his "Southland Tales" so I can’t very well comment on that flick. And that brings us to "The Box" a strange mix of mystery thriller and science fiction. Some of it works some of it doesn’t. And believe me, if you don’t really know what you’re getting into, you might as well walk out of the theater before you walk in. Wait, huh?

"The Box" is really loosely based on the short story "Button, Button" by Richard Matheson. That story, while very short, presents the reader with a fascinating moral dilemma. A strange man offers a married couple an interesting opportunity. He gives them a button. If they push the button two things will happen. They will receive $50,000 and someone they don’t know will die. The wife and husband are in financial woes. The husband doesn’t want to do it and the wife does. Eventually the woman pushes the button only to find out that her husband was just killed in a car accident. After she gets $50,000 from her husband’s life insurance policy the man who delivered the button insists that the woman never truly knew her husband.

Richard Matheson does deliver a more interesting moral story in just a few pages, but Kelly does manage to create a film that is simply fascinating from start to finish. The film begins normally as we’re introduced to Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden). The film takes place in 1976 and Kelly gets the time period perfectly (love that retro wallpaper). They’re awoken early in the morning by a knock at the door. A box is at their doorstep. Inside is a button. Later in the day a strange man named Mr. Steward with a nasty facial disfigurement comes to the door and explains the button to Norma. Like the original source if Norma pushes the button she’ll receive a million dollars and someone who she doesn’t know will die. Since the film differs greatly from the story, I will tell you that Arthur does not die (of course that assumes that she pushes the button).

Most people will find the first half the film to be enjoyable. Kelly gives the film a terrific look. There’s a glow to most scenes which I found beautiful. The performances are realistic and the button situation is utterly fascinating. I found a particular characterization pretty interesting. Norma is missing several toes on one of her feet from a freak accident when she was younger. Arthur works for NASA and is working on a special prosthesis to prevent her from limping. But in true Richard Kelly fashion he introduces us to utter weirdness before he even attempts to let us know what’s going on. The physical disfigurements reminded me of David Cronenberg. And the strange things that happen to the main characters is right out of a David Lynch movie. If you admire either of those two filmmakers you’re bound to find something to enjoy in the box.

Overall I enjoyed watching "The Box." Of course what starts out as an interesting yet simple story turns sort of convoluted and preposterous (I’m sure Kelly himself doesn’t quite understand what’s going on). However, I never found the movie to be boring. I enjoyed the weirdness. I enjoyed the performances. And I really enjoyed the Bernard Herrmann inspired score by members of the band Arcade Fire and musician Owen Pallett. If you’re not used to seeing "weird" movies that present you with strange characters and an even stranger mystery, then you should step outside of the box and see this bizarre flick. GRADE: B


19 comments:

Unknown said...

north face outlet
the north face clearance
the north face jackets
the north face outlet store
north face jackets
the north face uk
tommy hilfiger outlet
tory burch outlet
true religion jeans
vans shoes
ysl outlet
cheap nike shoes
nike running shoes
nike free 5.0
nike free
air max 2014
air max 2015
air max 90
gucci shoes
prada shoes
chicago blackhawks jersey
chicago bears jerseys
green bay packers jerseys
new orleans saints jerseys
oakland raiders jerseys
philadelphia eagles jerseys
san francisco 49ers jerseys
atlanta falcons jersey
dallas cowboys jersey
indianapolis colts jerseys
kansas city chiefs jerseys
miami dolphins jerseys
minnesota vikings jerseys
new england patriots jerseys
new york giants jerseys
new york jets jerseys

Unknown said...

2015-07-11 zhengjx
oakley sunglasses cheap
nike blazer pas cher
prada outlet store
mont blanc pens
longchamp pas cher
gucci sito ufficiale
jordans for sale
burberry outlet online
coach outlet
ray ban sunglasses
ray ban outlet
ray-ban sunglasse
ralph lauren pas cher
michael kors outlet
longchamp le pliage
oakley sunglasses outlet
michael kors outlet online
cheap soccer jerseys
kate spade outlet
retro jordans
coach factory outlet
coach factory outlet
ed hardy outlet
football jerseys
ed hardy uk
polo outlet
michael kors outlet online
abercrombie kids
jorda femme pas cher
cheap oakley sunglasses
burberry outlet
ray ban outlet
ralph lauren polo shirts
ray bans
kate spade
ray ban sunglasses uk
coach outlet
gucci handbags
michael kors outlet
hollister outlet

Unknown said...

cheap nfl jerseys
thomas sabo
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton outlet
oakley sunglasses outlet
canada goose outlet
chicago blackhawks jersey
oakley sunglasses
jordan 4
gucci handbags
seattle seahawks jerseys
philadelphia eagles jerseys
fivefingers shoes
michael kors outlet
toms shoes
supra shoes
chanel 2.55
baltimore ravens jerseys
giuseppe zanotti outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet
tory burch outlet
salomon shoes
ralph lauren outlet
los angeles clippers jerseys
tods outlet
cheap soccer jerseys
atlanta falcons jersey
abercrombie and fitch
cartier bracelet
celine outlet
nfl jerseys
green bay packers jerseys
mont blanc
pandora jewelry
kobe 9 elite
ray ban sunglasses
zheng123 7.31

Unknown said...

nfl jerseys wholesale
kobe bryants shoes 2015
salomon speedcross 3
barbour uk
black friday
new orleans saints
cyber monday
dallas cowboys
mulberry,mulberry handbags,mulberry outlet,mulberry bags,mulberry uk
oakley outlet
michael kors handbags,michael kors outlet,michael kors outlet online,michael kors,kors outlet,michael kors outlet online sale,michael kors handbags clearance,michael kors purses,michaelkors.com,michael kors bags,michael kors shoes,michaelkors,cheap michael kors
cheap mlb jerseys
ray ban sunglasses
designer handbags
chanel handbags
iphone cases
hermes bags
chanel outlet store online
calvin klein,calvin klein outlet online,calvin klein wholesale,calvin klein shoes,calvin klein underwear,calvin klein coats,calvin klein handbags
futbol baratas
tiffany jewelry
qqqq1028

John said...

nike huarache
canada goose jackets
coach outlet
ed hardy clothing
oakley sunglasses
swarovski jewelry
cheap uggs
ugg outlet
the north face jackets
coach outlet store online
hollister jeans
celine handbags
ugg boots outlet
uggs outlet
coach factory outlet
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
louis vuitton outlet online
cheap oakley sunglasses
tods outlet
cheap uggs
polo ralph lauren
michael kors outlet
jordan 11
louis vuitton
oakley sunglasses
nike free run
canada goose outlet
christian louboutin outlet
uggs clearance
20151208yuanyuan

John said...

coach outlet online
ray ban sunglasses
coach factory outlet
oakley sunglasses sale
mulberry uk
michael kors outlet online
pandora outlet
giuseppe zanotti
ralph lauren
michael kors outlet
mont blanc
ralph lauren shirts
lebron 11
louis vuitton bags
tory burch outlet online
fitflop clearance
tory burch outlet online
ray ban sunglasses outlet
toms outlet
michael kors outlet
cheap toms
louis vuitton outlet
abercrombie & fitch new york
prada handbags
marc jacobs handbags
michael kors uk
adidas superstars
canada goose outlet
oakley sunglasses sale
oakley sunglasses
official coach factory outlet
chanel handbags
mihchael kors outlet online sale
kate spade outlet
jordan retro 11
michael kors outlet
coach outlet
2016128yuanyuan

Unknown said...

true religion jeans
canada goose jackets
michael kors outlet
ugg boots
swarovski crystal
michael kors handbags
swarovski crystal
nike air max 90
coach outlet clearance
nike free 5
chanyuan10.05

raybanoutlet001 said...

coach outlet online
coach outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
chiefs jersey
nfl jerseys wholesale
nike factory outlet
ecco sandals
air jordan uk
fitflops sale
ralph lauren outlet

Unknown said...

zzzzz2018.7.13
pandora charms
christian louboutin shoes
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet online
pandora charms outlet
canada goose outlet
fitflops sale clearance
coach outlet
moncler online
kate spade outlet online

QQQQQQQQQ said...

kobe sneakers
nike shoes
cheap jordans
yeezy shoes
nike react
curry 4
michael kors handbags
golden goose
lacoste outlet
adidas pure boost

5689 said...

pandora
ray ban eyeglasses
pandora
ray ban eyeglasses
pandora jewelry
pandora
ugg boots clearance
fitflops shoes
ugg boots
uggs outlet
zzzzz2018.8.23

Unknown said...

www0901


oakley sunglasses
adidas outlet online
ralph lauren uk
golden goose sneakers
coach outlet
mbt shoes
off-white clothing
pandora jewelry outlet
ultra boost 3.0
off white

Unknown said...

red bottom heels
supreme hoodie
balenciaga
goyard bag
lacoste outlet
michael kors outlet online
balenciaga shoes
stephen curry 5
fila shoes
kobe sneakers

Hualala said...

Pandora Outlet
Air Jordan 11
Jordans 11
Kyrie Irving Shoes
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Retro Jordan 11
Red Bottom Shoes
Adidas Yeezy
Jordan 9
Paul20190104

yanmaneee said...

replica rolex
kyrie 3 shoes
russell westbrook shoes
timberlands
air max 95
golden goose starter
pg 1
michael kors
adidas gazelle sale
cheap jordans

ghada said...


شركة نقل عفش بمكة
نقل عفش بمكة
شركة نقل عفش بالطائف
شركة نقل عفش بينبع

ghada said...

شركة نقل عفش بالدمام
شركة نقل عفش بنجران
شركة نقل عفش بخميس مشيط
شركة نقل اثاث بابها
شركة نقل اثاث بحائل

ghada said...


شركة نقل اثاث ببريدة
شركة نقل اثاث بالقصيم
شركة نقل اثاث بحفر الباطن
شركة نقل اثاث بجازان

Unknown said...

m6p31t9t95 p4x76r7s73 h6z34d1n39 u9m93y3i11 i0q52p1u54 n0r73z3x95