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 | Gerry Director: Gus Van Sant Rated: M Mercury Cinema, from Thurs 10 Feb  You never know what to expect from director Gus Van Sant. He's made some wonderful films; 'My Own Private Idaho', 'Drugstore Cowboy', 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Elephant' were all met with acclaim but then he also did the abysmal 'Finding Forrester' and took the inexplicable decision to remake Hitchcock's classic Psycho, shot for shot. 'Gerry' was made before the Palm d'Or winner 'Elephant' with the same cinematographer, Harris Savides and stars Matt Damon ('Good Will Hunting') and Casey Affleck (younger brother of Damon's best friend Ben). After abandoning shooting in Argentina, the film was relocated in California, Utah and Nevada and features the American wilderness, particularly Death Valley, in all its harsh glory. Two friends, both named Gerry, get out of their car, walk into the wilds, deviate from the path and lose direction. For Australians with any understanding of the perils of being lost in the bush, the apparent inpreparedness and dumbness of these guys is astonishing. That they don't succumb to thirst, hunger and exposure after the first couple of days is implausible so audiences must suspend disbelief to follow this trip. The script was improvised by Damon, Affleck and Van Sant and the dialogue is minimal. The two Gerrys allude to a "thing" they're setting off to find, relate in great detail a 'Wheel Of Fortune' episode and a role playing game set in ancient Greece, perhaps hinting at an odyssey but never saying anything of much consequence or depth. All credit should go to cinematographer Harris Savides because what saves this film and makes it so stunning are the long, sweeping, wide-screen shots of the surreal terrain, the smoothness of steadicam and the distance between the viewer and the characters. The New York Film Critics Circle gave 'Gerry' the Best Cinematography award, recognizing the artistry involved in capturing the West on such a huge scale. It's hard to work out what Gerry is really about. Is it a buddy movie, a road trip, a survival story, a metaphor for the current state of young white American males, a dream/daydream, an exploration of a split personality disorder or all of the above? Who knows and does it really matter? My advice is to relax, go along with the ride and enjoy the scenery. There's something very therapeutic about long vistas of mountains, rocks and plains.  | |
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