Funny Games starring Susanne
Lothar, Ulrich Mühe, Arno Frisch,
Frank Giering, Stefan Clapczynski
3.5 Stars Out Of 4
It is impossible to have a neutral opinion about the Austrian thriller Funny
Games--a movie so relentless in its ability to shock that it gained pariah
status on the film festival circuit in 1997. In the warped tradition of A
Clockwork Orange, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and Blue Velvet, this is
a film--directed with electrifying audacity by Munich-born Michael Haneke--
that addresses the controversy of screen violence by making the viewer as
guilty as the Leopold and Loeb-like killers who terrorize a young family of
three during their summer vacation. They arrive as friendly neighbors,
seducing the family with phony congeniality, but soon Funny Games
reveals its devious strategy, turning savage and appalling... and
completely captivating for those who can endure the terror. Theres actually
less violence than youd see in a typical American horror flick such as
Scream, but Hanekes forceful staging effectively fulfills his agenda of
viewer complicity; we vividly experience this doomed familys fate and feel
helpless to save them. So helpless, in fact, that Haneke dares to offer a
hint of respite by giving a victim the upper hand, only to replay the same
scene with the darkest of outcomes. Funny Games is guaranteed to
outrage some viewers with its manipulative schemes, but theres no
denying the films visceral impact, generated by Hanekes expert handling
of a superior cast. Dont even think of allowing anyone under age 17 to
watch this film; all others should proceed with caution. --Jeff Shannon
Personal Review: Funny Games starring Susanne Lothar, Ulrich
Mühe, Arno Frisch, Frank Giering, Stefan Clapczynski
The Bottom Line:
So many films decry violence while simultaneously revelling in it (e.g. The
Condemned) that it's refreshing to see a film that honestly takes on the
topic of cinematic bloodshed; couple that to the fact that it's one of the
most clever movies I've ever seen and this is a movie you're unlikely to
ever forget.
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