By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Gus Van Zant
Starring: Casey Affleck | Matt Damon
Country: united_states
Year: 2003
Running time: 103
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0302674
Emily says: “GERRY is going to be one of those that generates a lot of dissension amongst Chlotrudis ranks, I think. Its an either ‘you love it or you hate it’ kind of film. I’ll say one thing, that it asks a lot of its audience, and whether or not you think it accomplishes its goal (in moving the viewer into a different kind of viewing experience), will be a hotly debated point for sure. Certainly the cinematography could get a nomination for best supporting role….I’ll weigh in here and say I liked the film, and liked it more and more after I left. It is SPARE on dialogue to say the least, and LONG on long shots…of desert scenery. It follows the story in the news from a few years back about two guys who head out for a short trek in the desert, become lost for over three days, and before they find civilization again, one of the two, suffering badly from dehydration and fatigue, asks his friend to kill him and put him out of his misery (that’s the news story). The film is based on this story (i.e. no spoilers here), and examines the relationship between two young men who find themselves, through a a pretty gradual realization, in desperate straits. Oddly, in some ways this film seemed to me to be a distant cousin of Claire Denis’ BEAU TRAVAIL, in terms of looking at the (sometimes odd) rituals of male bonding and connection, set against a desert background…but I leave the rest to you. For me, the most powerful scene is at the near end of the film, again very sparse in dialogue, but rich in body language, which I DO think accomplishes, finally, the films intentions – this is the part I think many may challenge me on (greg did not agree with me). We’ll see. Definitely if you are a Gus Van Sant fan, you really must see it!”