Reviews
Monday, August 13, 2007
Bug
Director: William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection, Blue Chips, Rules of Engagement)
Writer: Tracy Letts
Producers: Kimberly C. Anderson, Michael Burns, Gary Huckabay, Malcolm Petal, Andreas Schardt, Holly Wiersma
Starring: Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Lynn Collins, Brian F. O'Byrne, Harry Connick Jr.
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 102 min
read my spoiler disclaimer
reviewed by Andrew James
Except for those of us that really love and keep up with the newest genre or more "Twitchy" films, I can pretty much guarantee this will be the oddest film you've seen this year and likely for the rest of 2007.
This will have to be a shorter review since to go too deep and give out too much information might ruin the "fun" of the film. But bascially it goes like this: Ashley Judd plays Agnes; a lonesome, southern, white trash, roadhouse, cocktail witress who lives in a desolate, seedy motel. She is plagued by strange, prank phone calls throughout the day and night and we figure out quickly she is being bothered by an ex of some kind; and a not to savory one at that. Her only friend is a lesbian co-worker who brings a stranger over to Agnes' home one night for drinks and conversation. Agnes finds this new stranger to be, although extremely weird (in a Forrest Gump meets Buffalo Bill [Silence of the Lambs] sort of way), very nice company and basically a decent guy. As they both seem to have troubled pasts, they form a firm bond and he ends up staying with Agnes for a spell.
Soon the ex-husband (an ex-con played by Harry Connick Jr) comes poking around and causing trouble. Agnes and Peter (the strange friend) at the same time discover small, biting bugs in their bed and soon realize that the entire motel room is infested with them. Because of Peter's shaky and shady past, they agree to not arouse suspicion and just take care of the problem themselves. But there's more to these little bed-bugs than meet the eye; MUCH more.
I'm actually astonished that Ashley Judd signed up for a project like this. I wonder if she knew what the final outcome might look like when she agreed to this role. I mean some of the lines that come out of her mouth are the craziest, B-movie, Cronenberg-esque things I've heard someone of her normal, Hollywood chicklet persona say. She reminded me very much of Charlize Theron's performance in Monster; her beauty hidden, her intelligence stripped and her class gone. It's a wonderful performance but something that is very uncharacteristic of Ms. Judd. Of maybe even higher caliber, is Michael Shannon's performance as Peter - a very strange man with a hidden and mysterious (to say the least) past. It was a joy to watch both actors in their element; even though i'm not entirely sure what that element was.
This is most certainly not a film for just anybody, as evident by the quite a few number people who left the theater after about 45 minutes. The film does seem to take its time in getting to the point (if indeed there is one). It is a lot of character development by way of conversation. But I think most would agree the conversation is fresh and interesting. Definitely something original that is missing from many Hollywood films of today.
The style is just as unique and really deserves more than just a passing mention. It is most certainly a triumph for this hit-or-miss director. The whole feeling of everything has got a raw realism to it that works fantastically well. Besides the grittiness of the motel room and bar, but also the very subtle (and not so subtle at times) sound effects and use of sound mixing.
If you're able to just go with it, Bug can be more than a good time. I think you'll see that the characters and their dialogue are more than engrossing enough to get you through to the meat of the story. At that point, you'll be so fascinated and intrigued as to what the hell is going on that you just have to stay throughout the head-shaking, wtf climax to the story. Again, although I liked it quite a bit, it's definitely not a film for everyone, but shows us what boundaries will be crossed to assuage our lonliness. This film, if nothing else, will certainly get under your skin.
Links:
IMDb.com - full cast and crew
Official Site
FLIXSTER PROFILE for Bug
Next entry: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Previous entry: Waitress
-
moviepatron.com is very the most informative. I enjoyed your blog a lot. Thank you.
pay day loans on 06/28 at 06:29 AM -
moviepatron.com is great! Are PayDay Loans Cheaper Than Bank Overdrafts With the Supreme Courts recent ruling on unauthorised overdraft charges in favour of banks payday loans may be a cheaper option than the unfair as branded by the Office of Fair Trading overdraft charges
toronto payday loans on 07/11 at 04:24 AM -
moviepatron.com is great! I loved reading it. Thank you for all your work.
mr payday review on 08/18 at 06:05 PM -
Your post is excellent. Thank you very much for presenting plenty of usable information and facts. I am going to bookmark your weblogblog site and will be without doubt coming back. Again, I admire all your work additionally sharing a whole lot precious information to the audience.
payday loan on 08/24 at 04:52 AM -
jzqlxiwtkogmbmtaobtjxldpftbpajoeznh
bc loans on 09/01 at 05:47 PM -
A pretty nice niche blog, and a fine design there sparks Simplicity yet complex algorithm of the net. Thank You. mljpgmaphjcrbxcadmtvamkaplhkcpjindz
Mr. Payday Easy Loans Inc. on 09/07 at 07:53 PM -
Hi webmaster, commencers and everybody else !!! The blog was absolutely fantastic! Lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need! Keep them coming… You all do such a great job at such Concepts… can’t tell you how much I, for one appreciate all you do!
payday loans canada on 09/22 at 02:01 AM -
Hi buddy, fairly informative post. Please keep them coming. dvmlcbenchc
payday loans no fax on 09/23 at 12:54 AM -
Thanks for such a great post and the review, I am totally impressed! Keep stuff like this coming.
faxless payday loans on 09/26 at 01:09 AM -
Thanks for good news! Your site is very useful for me. I bookmarked your site!
loans in canada on 09/26 at 10:54 AM -
I am doing something of the same interest and will be taking note on this .Thanks.
bad credit loan in canada on 09/26 at 11:48 PM -
Good post. Thank for sharing.
bad credit loans toronto on 09/27 at 02:06 PM -
This article gives the light in which we can observe the reality. This is fairly nice one and gives in-depth information. Thanks for this nice article.
loan in british columbia on 09/28 at 12:22 AM -
Hi webmaster, commencers and everybody else !!! The blog was absolutely brilliant! Lots of amazing information and inspiration, both of which we all need! Keep them coming… You all do such a remarkable job at such Concepts… can’t tell you how much I, for one appreciate all you do!
payday loan ontario on 09/28 at 02:28 PM -
Wow! Thank you! I always wanted to write in my webpage something like that. Can I take part of your publish to my blog?
loans for bad credit on 09/29 at 01:26 AM -
Greetings everyone, This webpage is fantastic and so is how the matter was expanded. I like some of the comments as well although I would prefer we all maintain it on topic in order add value to the subject.
bc loan canada on 09/30 at 03:08 AM -
Effectively, the post is actually the sweetest on this deserving topic. I agree with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your incoming updates. Just saying thanks will not just be adequate, for the amazing clarity in your writing. I will at once grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates. Fantastic work and much success in your business endeavors!
canadian loans on 10/01 at 03:17 AM -
Thanks for making such a killer blog. I come on here all the time and am floored with the fresh information here.
losing weight on 10/02 at 11:23 AM -
Fantastic concepts on this web page. It’s rare these days to find websites with data you are seeking. I am happy I chanced on this webpage. I will certainly bookmark it or even register for your rss feeds simply to be updated on your new posts. Maintain up the nice job and I’m sure some other folks researching valued information will actually stop by and benefit from your internet site for resources.
bad credit loans on 10/03 at 12:38 PM -
Usually I do not write on blogs, but I would like to say that this article really convinced me to do so! Congratulations, very nice publish.
bad credit loans online on 10/04 at 02:21 AM -
Thanks for effective news! Your site is highly useful for me. I bookmarked your site!
payday loan online on 10/04 at 09:22 AM -
A fairly nice niche blog, and a first-rate design there sparks Simplicity yet complex algorithm of the internet. Thank You.
loans with bad credit on 10/06 at 05:12 PM -
Superior submit. Thank for sharing.
faxless payday loan on 10/12 at 10:49 PM -
Thanks for making such a killer blog. I arrive on here all the time and am floored with the fresh information here.
canadian loan bad credit on 10/13 at 12:58 PM -
Easily, the submit is really the greatest on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your future updates. Saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the amazing lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay privy of any updates. Solid work and much success in your business enterprise!
personal bad credit loans canada on 10/13 at 11:51 PM