Rescue Dawn is set to open in select theatres on July 4 and, though the trailer has been cut to appeal to wider audiences, (it is depicted with a bit more hollywood flare, ie. fast action cuts and a dramatic Terminatoresque percussive score, than Herzog is used to presenting), I can only guess that the film will seethe with the director's usual gritty realism and his notorious 'character's-on-the-edge-of-their- own-sanity' style. The movie's is based on the personal account of Herzog's close friend, a P.O.W. in the Vietnam war played by Christian Bale, whose epic struggle is to escape from a remote jungle prison camp in Laos.
Daniel Zalewski wrote an intriguing profile in the April 24th, 2006 issue of The New Yorker that focused on the filming of this movie in particular, and, more generally, Herzog's unique approach to making movies. The article gives a valuable behind-the-scenes look at the director's relationship with his rather disgruntled cast and crew as well as his almost reflexive gambles with the production company. Anyone who has seen Burden of Dreams is aware of the kind of turmoil and desperation upon which Herzog's camera thrives and Zalewski's article brings this depiction further up to date, providing more background concerning Herzog's unique motivations and his sometimes bizarre judgement. I recommend the read for anyone who is a fan of his films.
Inland Empire looks to be vintage Lynch material, but because he is producing the film himself, it has yet to gain much publicity as it continues to tour the globe through various film festivals and screenings. Having thought to have missed one of only two Virginia screenings, I called the North Theatre in Danville where it was supposed to show last week. Call it blind luck or a fortuitous benefaction from the technical struggle of cinema, but only one of the three planned screenings showed due to electrical problems with the circuitry in the film house. So for those in Southwest Virginia who have not yet seen a screening of Inland Empire, the man on the phone at the North Theatre has promised to post the newly revised upcoming show dates for the re-screening of the film on their website. What an event! Without question worth the drive, and how in the world did a small theatre in Danville, Virginia get the film?
Here's the jump to Manohla Dargis' thorough review from The New York Times.
