Just watched another film worth talking about.  Well in my case worth writing about.

This is one of those films where you see the trailer on some independent film your friend brings over and you think “hey, that looks pretty good” and then you forget about it until, years later, you find a copy in a collection at someone’s house where you are visiting for an important dinner party and you can’t actually ask about the film so you forget about it again.  This is a mental cud film.  It’ll keep coming back up for a chew.

Benefit from my benevolent prodding.

It’s probably no surprise to anyone that I rather like films which prompt one to look back over one’s shoulder and wonder how the hell did I get here?  No surprise indeed.

Well, Christian Slater and a host of other top shelf actors were involved in one such project called He Was a Quiet Man.  Slater plays his role masterfully amid a supporting cast which never relents, superb acting all around.

I should make mention also of writer and director Frank A. Cappello (who also wrote the screen play for Constantine).  We’ll have to keep an eye on him, just in case.

Many of the scenes are remarkable constructions.  The box escape scene comes quickly to mind.  And the whole film reminded me of the slipping back and forth between reality and fantasy in the film La Science des rêves.

Ostensibly the film is about a guy who goes postal at his cubicle and kills a bunch of his co-workers.  Stopping to chit-chat with Slater’s character, he gets distracted long enough to get shot five times.  As with any good film, this is just the framework onto which the important story elements are hung like glittering christmas lights.

Underneath all of this, the electricity which glitters the lights, we have a tale of impending madness and modern solitude.  It is the story of the Invisible Man brought to the boiling point, yearning to be seen but once seen yearning to be invisible again.  One  cannot hide in the shadows when all the world is alight.

I remain a little uncertain about the ending, especially having watched the extras.  I’ll give it a week and watch it again.

Nonetheless, go out there and get yourself a copy.  Be prepared to be a little disturbed as the introspection probes mount.  C’mon, you remember the first time you watched Blue Velvet.  It’s worth it.

Ooh, big hug you crazy kids!