Customer Reviews

Undertow

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

"Undertow" weaves together gothic horror and boys' adventure tale into a down and dirty rural thriller. Following the death of his wife, John Munn (Dermot Mulroney) took his 2 sons to "live in the sticks like hermits", shut away from the world. The oldest, Chris (Jamie Bell), is now a teenager who does much of the work on the family's small farm, in spite of trying his father's patience with a string of petty offenses. His younger brother, Tim (Devon Alan), is sickly, downright peculiar, and isn't expected to do his share. One day John's brother Deel (Josh Lucas) shows up for a visit, just out of prison. John and Deel have a bitter past, but John invites Deel to stay on until his new job starts. But Deel's intentions toward his family are less than honorable. When the situation turns violent, the boys are left to fend for themselves.

Director David Gordon Green gives the vague impression that "Undertow" is a true story by claiming at the beginning that the film was made with the cooperation of Drees County law enforcement and the "family of John W. Munn". In fact, screenwriter Joe Conway based "Undertow" on a story told to a runaway hotline which was thought to be a highly embellished version of some underlying truth. From the start, the characters and their actions don't ring as true or credible, but their emotions are real and powerful. If there is enough suspense and menace in a thriller, the question of plausibility falls by the wayside, as it does here. The film places the burden of credibility on its principle cast of 4, and they all come through. John is afraid of the world. Deel thinks it owes him something. Chris is Deel's naive but strong opposing force. Tim becomes increasingly sympathetic as the film progresses. "Undertow"'s corrupted innocence, isolation, and evil bring gothic horror to Hicksville.

The DVD (MGM 2005 release): Bonus features include a making-of documentary, 2 deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer, a photo gallery, and an audio commentary. "Under the Undertow" (30 minutes) is a documentary full of on-set footage and interviews with director, cast, and crew, made by the cast and crew -most notably actor Josh Lucas- during the film's 30-day shoot. "Animated Photo Gallery" (5 minutes) is a slideshow of on-set photos. The audio commentary is by director David Gordon Green and actor Jamie Bell, who is seeing the film for the first time. This is a general commentary about directorial decisions, filming, and Green's and Bell's experiences making the film. Subtitles for the film are available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Dubbing is available in Spanish and Portuguese.

I read an article a while back, discussing some overlooked movies of the past few years. "Undertow" was one of them, and for some reason I took a chance and ordered it. As I always try not to read too much about a movie beforehand (it's such an irritation when reviewers give away essential elements of the plot), I wasnt quite sure what to expect. I had an uneasy feeling that it might turn out to be a slow moving artsy fartsy movie about Hillbillies. After the first few seconds my trepidations were gone and I was happily lost in the strange, eerie and entertaining world created by Mr Green. He truly is a remarkable talent and because of this movie I have also ordered "George Washington", his first feature film. I was very impressed by the four leads of UNDERTOW, each portraying their characters with gusto and visible dedication. The cameos are wonderfully off beat, and well acted. The commentary track by Green and Jamie Bell provides insightful and amusing facts about the project and is well worth a listen. It's a good story with believable characters and some nailbiting moments! But, because of David Gordon Green's artistic touches, the movie is elevated to more than just a commercial flick. I do hope more people will become aware of UNDERTOW in future as it really deserves more credit and attention.

John (Dermont Mulroney) has lost his wife and now must rise his two boys, Chris ("Billy Elliot"'s Jamie Bell) and Tim (Devon Alan) by himself. Chris though is a handful already in trouble with the law and dating a girl, Lila (Kristen Stewart, "Catch That Kid") who's father doesn't approve up to the point where he chases the boy with a gun. But what is John to do? Enter Deel (Josh Lucas) John's brother. Deel has just been released from prison and has not seen his brother for some time. In fact he doesn't even recognize his nephews.

At this point in the story I was thinking the movie was going to be about Deel's relationship with his brother and getting to know this family he never knew about. I figured the boys would come to grow on Deel and would treat him like a father. Deel would help the boys get through this difficult time.

But "Undertow" isn't interested in that story. And heaven knows we've seen it before. The movie was directed by David Gordon Green ("George Washington", "All the Real Girls") and soon Green switches gears on us in a very unexpected way. Now the movie turns into almost a fairy tale.

Some of the scenes actually had me on the edge of my seat and created more suspense than most of the thrillers being released. And this movie doesn't even seem that interested in suspense. What "Undertow" seems most interested in is the characters. Every performance here seem flawless. We accept ever character as they are. We imagine that Green perhaps knows these characters. People like this must really exist. Every line of dialogue seems like it could have actually been spoken by real people in these exact situations. The characters are fueled by emotions we can actually relate to. What a relief to see a movie like this. A movie that has something about it that rings true.

I haven't seen any of Green's other films. I know Roger Ebert is a very big fan of his, and most of my knowledge of Green comes through Ebert. Though many of the video stores around me do not carry his films. I'll have to look harder now. I'm very curious to see his work.

"Undertow" is a movie that is really worth checking out. You will be surprised at how the movie has a way of sneaking up and you and getting inside your thoughts. It's one of those movies that puts you under its spell. *** 1\2 out of *****

Bottom-line: David Gordon Green's "Undertow" sweeps you underneath its spell. The movie has knockout performances and almost every bit of it seems real.

When Roger Ebert is your number one fan devout cinemagoers take notice. I have the utmost respect of David Gordon Green. Whilst George Washington may be the least played DVDs I own it still is a cherished one, because in there lies the key to the most vital taste of reality captured on screen. Whilst not non-linear, his narrative style and pacing certainly will try even the most patient of mainsteam audiences. All The Real Girls was another example of visual poetry, that meandered through scenes, however still entertained. His last two films have relied less on a story and more on characterisation and evoking an atmosphere.

This is where Undertow is different. Green had found a story that allowed the same naturalistic approach, yet one that still needed to be structured. With a bigger budget that afforded three absolutely outstanding performances from Jamie Bell, Josh Lucas and Mulroney, a Philip Glass score that finally doesn't sound the same as his last twenty and a truly riveting story about a father, his two sons, and the mysterious relative that shows up one day, Undertow is indeed one of 2004's lost treasures.

This film underlines Green's talent. From fight sequences to the most delicate, nuanced moments of human fragility and innocence he provides a slice of the human condition that I really cannot find an equal. Three features in four years also shows he is prolific. The comparisons to Malick will remain, but his work represents a unique voice that should not be undermined by such comparisons.

A special mention must be made on the editing. The freeze frames were a particularly effective stylistic trait that ran throughout the film. When Bell throws a stone at a window, the action is repeated four or five times with differing effects laid onto them. Such a simple effect, and one that echoes the film effect created in Clu Gulager's 1969 short film A Day with the Boys.

So what we have here is Green finally trying something more conventional and passing with flying colours. If you haven't seen his previous two films start with this. It is by far the most accessible, and one that will introduce you to a film language that Green has reinvigorated. I look forward to what he decides to take on next.

if you are a fan of night of the hunter or certain films 0f the 1970s this is for you. it can be slow [comparatively to current Hollywood ADD standards] but it is filled with beauty, malice and understanding. Tough kids and heavy swamp, following the river. Hellyeah.

David Gordon Green's third film is more conventionally plotted than his previous "All the Pretty Girls" but it has his very distinctive earthy and poetic style that makes the film dreamy and beautiful without being "pretty-pretty". Based on the real story, "Undertow" tells about a father and his two sons who live in a rural backwoods Georgia. The father is a lonely man; the older son is a rebel, and the young one has some health problems. One day, a long lost Uncle Deel shows up, and the lives of four of them are changed forever. This film is a successful combination of the family drama and "South Gothic Thriller". It brings to mind such classics of the cinema as "Night Hunter" and the writings of Mark Twain and Brothers Grimm as well as the ancient legends and myths. The best about the film are its stunning cinematography and performances by Jamie Bell as Chris Munn, the older boy and Josh Lucas as Deel Munn, the boys' uncle whom they never knew.

a small film but original.The two boy actors were excellent. Not a pretty story but poetic,particulary the ending

David Gordon Green's "Undertow" is an odd, meandering picture, an uneasy mix of thriller and the kind of Southern gothic cinema that played beautifully in Green's first two efforts, "George Washington," and "All The Real Girls." Green and cinematographer Tim Orr apply the same Terrence Malick "day yet was" camera style to the movie with lovely, sepia-toned results.

But the story, of two boys (Jamie Bell and Devon Allen) on the run from their murderous uncle (Josh Lucas) with a bag of Mexican gold coins, is set on infinite simmer. The boys' journey through swamps, forests and hills is occasionally interesting, a little funny and always a visual feast. But it's also leading somewhere, toward that inevitable climax, and the concept of an ending always does something to viewers - they want to be pulled along, not simply immersed. Green can aim for dreamy all he pleases but he signed on to deliver more than a tone poem. That's the compromise you make.

So when Chris (Bell) and Tim (Allen) converse at length, and philosophically, about chiggers on the bank of a river, it feels like False Depth From An Artist, not suspense. When Deel (Lucas) gets a flat tire and has to chat with a barely sane tow truck driver, it screams Local Color. When the boys stumble upon a bombed-out factory of young squatters, all articulate and grunge gorgeous, it's as if Cormac McCarthy stumbled in for a day.

There's a place for this and Green found it, twice, and could continue on finding it in plotless, timeless, mood pieces should he wish. But pulse-pounding - even pulse-generating - "Undertow" isn't. It's Billy Bob Thornton, with his "One False Move" and "Sling Blade," who's the heir the genre made known by the original "Cape Fear," "In Cold Blood" and "Deliverance." Green has some living to do - it may even involve a little hell-raisin, for that matter - before he really taps into what makes a backwater thriller hum.

(Note: "Undertow" will be forgotten in a few years, by even Green maybe, but it may feature the longest cigarettes I've ever seen smoked in a movie. Lucas lights a stick twice as long as your common store brands - it'd be a heck of a trivia question to figure where those came from, or if they were specially manufactuted for the film.)

Director David Gordon Green's "Undertow" is a dark movie that explores the various shades of darkness within the human soul set against a rural backdrop. Chris [Jaime Bell] is a rebellious and troublesome youth who lives in a derelict home with sickly younger brother [Devon Alan] and widower father John [Dermot Mulroney], a pig farmer and sometime taxidermist. From the beginning, viewers get a sense that something menacing is about to happen, and a sense of pervasive 'darkness' runs throughout the movie. True enough, things get progressively darker and ominous when John's estranged, convict brother Deel [Josh Lucas] comes for an unwelcome visit. Not to give too much of the plot away, the brothers soon find themselves fleeing from Deel, whose benign first appearance gives way to something menacing and dangerous. The rest of the movie deals with this cat-and-mouse game between Deel and the brothers.

I felt the actors all did a credible job in their respective roles, bringing depth to the characters - the darkness within seems to be the pervasive theme in this movie, and I felt it was aptly conveyed without going over the top with emotional histrionics. "Undertow" was released in 2004, but I have only now discovered it, and it is well worth viewing for those interested in compelling human dramas with an element of suspense.

"Undertow" stars Jamie Bell as Chris, as a rebellious youngster living in abject poverty on a Georgia pig farm owned by his father, John (Dermot Mulroney). The movie opens with Chris getting in trouble once again and incurring the wrath of his caring but distant father. The family is thrown into disarray by the appearance of John's long-lost brother, Deel (Josh Lucas), who spent time in prison for reasons that are never fully explained. Deel is obviously trouble, but John decides to give him another chance, and the family seems somewhat happy to have some company and another hand to help around the farm. Unfortunately, Deel soon is up to trouble, which changes the family irrevocably. The rest of the film is essentially one long chase with family secrets spilled and loyalties tested.

As others have pointed out, "Undertow" has more than a few things in common with "Night of the Hunter," although it falls far short of that gothic classic. Where "Undertow" diverges from "Hunter" is by incorporating elements of 70s grindhouse cinema, which sometimes gels well with the film and sometimes doesn't. Josh Lucas' over-the-top performance veers "Undertow" toward southern gothic tripe, but fortunately Jamie Bell's outstanding and believable turn as a southern teen anchors the movie. Bell manages to capture the roughness of the character while also imbuing Chris with surprising tenderness. It's another great turn for the British actor.

The movie also features some flashy direction by David Gordon Green. He received praise for the gritty realism of his debut film, "George Washington," and would go on to the smash comedy "Pineapple Express." Green goes for an eclectic approach here, throwing in everything at his disposal, which leads to a rather muddled tone. Another star is the gorgeous Georgia countryside that adds creepy atmosphere; "Undertow" looks really beautiful, even when the setting is gritty. "Undertow" kept my attention, despite a few dull patches, and Jamie Bell is so good that I would weakly recommend it for people who don't mind their ham overbaked.