TotalTelly.co.uk
Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV
Palindromes [2004]
![Palindromes [2004]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RQ2W812EL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £11.88 (subject to change)
astonishing
Review date: 2008-10-11 Rating: 10 out of 10
this is about as far from disney that it gets. thank god for todd solondz! this is a splice of life delivered with astonishing frankness. there are moments of tenderness, other moments that push the boundaries of the taboo. this is what film-making should be all about!
Similar Products
- Welcome To The Dollhouse [1995]
- The Science Of Sleep [2006]
- Me And You And Everyone We Know
- The Squid And The Whale [2005]
- Atomised [2006]
Reviews
If you do not like asking yourself difficult questions, perhaps this film is not for you
Review date: 2007-11-25 Rating: 8 out of 10
Recommended to me by my dark, mysterious, and intellectual friend Chris Blackshere, I still found myself shivering of the affects of this film. I found the characters to be deeply emotional, at times disturbing yet oddly enough neither attractive nor repulsive. If you were offended by "The Woodsman"...then seeing this film would not be advised. "The Woodsman" largely hinted at things...and seldom "went there." This film not only "goes there," but on a certain level normalizes it. I sincerely doubt any abuse survivor with unresolved issues could see this film without becoming upset. Likewise, I doubt that any person with a physical challenge/disability could see this film without being irritated...both of these things are sad, in my eyes, because what Solondz does really well is not judge the process...he presents his characters in an every day way because they are part of everyday life.
All of these characters are deeply human...wounded souls...some do wonderful things for selfish reasons, some do horrible things for noble reasons...others seem to merely survive. There are a number of standout performances, and there are other performances where you look at the screen and are trying to figure out "Is that on purpose?" For example, the opening "Aviva" is a young African-American actress of probably 9 or 10...quite honestly, she's a rather horrid actress who appears to be reading lines off the cue card...while she looks adorable...well, her delivery was simply awkward...and yet, as time went on, I found this characterization balancing wonderfully with the others...perhaps the most powerful portrayal is offered by the "Mama Sunshine" Aviva...portrayed by Sharon Wilkins, a large African-American female...older, and clearly not a child...clearly not innocent...yet the whole scene is played off as though she is AND Wilkins is mesmerizing. Likewise, the wondrous Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Aviva after she has returned home and adds a weathered, yet tender touch to the character that is just hypnotic. Additionally, her insistence to invite a family member who is alleged to be a pedophile leads to one of the most quietly powerful conversations I've seen on film this year ending with these classic lines:
Mark Wiener: By the way, I'm not a pedophile.
Aviva: I know. Pedophiles LOVE children.
Simply powerful.
"Palindromes" is a challenging film...it is, at times, a tad boring and has definite pockets where the acting is not up to par. Yet, in reality, I can't help but feel this was an intentional move by Solondz. It's as if he wants us to realize...that we can change our looks, our voices, our boobs, our bodies, our talents, our gifts, our color...but who we are doesn't change. Selfish people will always be selfish...happy people will always find a way to be happy. Challenging, thought provoking and deeply human...Todd Solondz, backward and forward, is simply an outstanding, courageous storyteller and a unique, insightful and gifted director.
El beef? Feeble.
Review date: 2006-09-02 Rating: 4 out of 10
This film will easily offend the easily offended. I am not easily offended and was simply a little intrigued by the quirky way the actors change from scene to scene and the riddle of why Ellen Barkin decided to take a major role in this film. In fact, the question I was left with at the end was: how in Hollywood's name did "Palindromes" ever get made?
I loved "Happiness" by the same director, which was mercilessly hilarious in the way it ridiculed modern sexual manners. But this? It's well enough made and there's some irony, some Christian-bashing, and one or two moments of Happiness-style close-to-the-bone black humour. But funny it ain't. Maybe I'm just not sick enough.
Todd Solondz obviously put a lot of work in trying to say something, but it's not clear what. Perhaps it's a morality comedy aimed at the 12-year-old girl market? Apologies if I'm missing something, but Todd has gone a bit overboard in the arthouse-pretentious-teenage school of film making.
I gave it two stars rather than one because I think someone will appreciate it more than me, I just can't think who.
waste of time
Review date: 2006-02-13 Rating: 2 out of 10
happiness = excellent
storytelling = poor
palimdrones = waste of time
minimal plot, poor acting, irrlevant characters...just a really annoying tedious film. Please dont waste your money on this. Just because a director does one good film doenst mean subsequent films are worth watching.
An Absurd Fable About Innocence
Review date: 2005-11-16 Rating: 8 out of 10
Director Todd Stolonz has always made controversial films (“Storytelling”, “Welcome To The Dollhouse”, Happiness”). This time the controversy is simply about a girl that wants to have a baby ever since she could talk. Stolonz always has a trick up his sleeve and this time, Aviva, a young girl is portrayed by several different actresses at different ages. They are small, big, white, black, freckle-faced, skinny, fat, you name it. It’s confusing at first until you realize that ‘perhaps’ Stolonz is using them as a universal theme. No matter. The acting is amazing, in that some characters are banally subtle and others are manically intense. From a middle class home with normal parents to an extended family of adopted children with disabilities, “Palidromes” never allows you to lose interest. Aviva is on her own road trip and encounters all kinds of people with many different opinions. It’s not as good as “Happiness” or “Storytelling” but it’s worth viewing.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Richard Masur
Angela Pietropinto
Matthew Faber
Bill Buell
Ellen Barkin
Creators:
Ellen Barkin (Primary Contributor)
Richard Masur (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Tartan Video
Manufacturer: Tartan Video
EAN: 5023965348425
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2005-09-26
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running time: 96 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2004
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: English (Original Language)