There are a great many "odd" things about the film "Roman." It features an odd choice of a leading man in Lucky McKee, who is best known for directing the cult hit "May." "Roman" covers a variety of odd subjects, such as death, obsession, and loss with a view uncommon to general cinema. It features an odd soundtrack full of wonderful alternate-country tunes and dusty old gems. "Roman" has odd unexpected appearances by fan-favorite television actors Kristen Bell and Eddie Steeples. But for all the odd things occurring in Angela Bettis's charming "Roman," the oddest is that while people line up at theaters to be "entertained" by forgettable dreck like "300," "Wild Hogs," and "Premonition," a great, memorable film like "Roman" will remain largely unseen. Maybe it's not that odd, just a little sad.
Roman (McKee) is your average fellow. He gets up and goes to work in the morning, doesn't exactly see eye to eye with his coworkers, and he enjoys the occasional beer after a hard day´s work. What separates him from the rest of the pack is that while many of us employ a television or books to bide our time, Roman prefers his own brand of entertainment. He likes to set up the easy chair in front of his apartment window and watch the activities of his neighbor, whom he has never met but in a fit of obsession named Isis (Kristen Bell). After a chance meeting on the roof of their apartment building, Roman and "Isis" talk over a couple of bottles of Pacifico, and a discussion of how cans of Pork n' Beans are created sparks a genuine attraction between the two. But later on in Roman's apartment, things go horribly wrong. The uncomfortably awkward and lonely Roman lets it slip that he's been watching her from afar for quite some time now. "Isis," understandably unnerved, attempts to escape his apartment but after a tussle gets out of hand, she ends up dead on his floor. The next day, after overhearing neighbors and police officers discuss her lack of family and friends, Roman concludes that his "accident" will remain unknown and takes advantage of his isolation. Stocking up on air fresheners and bags of ice, Roman decides to keep his relationship with "Isis" alive, even if she is not.
"Roman" is a wonderful companion piece to the aforementioned "May," starring "Roman's" director Angela Bettis and directed by "Roman" star Lucky McKee. While the brilliant "May" centers around Bettis's lonely, isolated, and mentally unbalanced character taking parts of people she liked to create a person that could love her a la Dr. Frankenstein, "Roman" represents the doctor's monster itself. Alone and misunderstood by the world at large Roman is so overjoyed during his first real connection with another human that his exuberance in keeping that moment alive leads to his most-cherished desire's death. Much like the scene in Whale's "Frankenstein" where the monster, having finally found an understanding playmate in the child Maria, misunderstands the method of their game and ultimately kills the girl.
hile "Roman" gets off to a slow start and maintains that pace throughout, it's one of those films that actually benefits from its momentum, its less drive. It's the odd and unnerving things that Roman does that keeps the movie afloat, like drawing a TV on his wall so he can have a conversation with his coworkers about last night's fight or stockpiling his home with cases of Pacifico Beer and cans of Pork N' Beans as an homage to his continuing obsession for his love that lies decaying in his bathtub. After befriending Eva, an odd duck of a neighbor, the two start a bizarre courtship leading to Roman's sheepishly proud admission at work as to having two girlfriends. As strange as it is odd, Roman is also beautifully shot, particularly the trippy dream scenes, the location shots of Roman taking "Isis's" body parts on isolated picnics, and the final devastating scene in Eva's apartment.
Roman (McKee) is your average fellow. He gets up and goes to work in the morning, doesn't exactly see eye to eye with his coworkers, and he enjoys the occasional beer after a hard day´s work. What separates him from the rest of the pack is that while many of us employ a television or books to bide our time, Roman prefers his own brand of entertainment. He likes to set up the easy chair in front of his apartment window and watch the activities of his neighbor, whom he has never met but in a fit of obsession named Isis (Kristen Bell). After a chance meeting on the roof of their apartment building, Roman and "Isis" talk over a couple of bottles of Pacifico, and a discussion of how cans of Pork n' Beans are created sparks a genuine attraction between the two. But later on in Roman's apartment, things go horribly wrong. The uncomfortably awkward and lonely Roman lets it slip that he's been watching her from afar for quite some time now. "Isis," understandably unnerved, attempts to escape his apartment but after a tussle gets out of hand, she ends up dead on his floor. The next day, after overhearing neighbors and police officers discuss her lack of family and friends, Roman concludes that his "accident" will remain unknown and takes advantage of his isolation. Stocking up on air fresheners and bags of ice, Roman decides to keep his relationship with "Isis" alive, even if she is not.
"Roman" is a wonderful companion piece to the aforementioned "May," starring "Roman's" director Angela Bettis and directed by "Roman" star Lucky McKee. While the brilliant "May" centers around Bettis's lonely, isolated, and mentally unbalanced character taking parts of people she liked to create a person that could love her a la Dr. Frankenstein, "Roman" represents the doctor's monster itself. Alone and misunderstood by the world at large Roman is so overjoyed during his first real connection with another human that his exuberance in keeping that moment alive leads to his most-cherished desire's death. Much like the scene in Whale's "Frankenstein" where the monster, having finally found an understanding playmate in the child Maria, misunderstands the method of their game and ultimately kills the girl.
hile "Roman" gets off to a slow start and maintains that pace throughout, it's one of those films that actually benefits from its momentum, its less drive. It's the odd and unnerving things that Roman does that keeps the movie afloat, like drawing a TV on his wall so he can have a conversation with his coworkers about last night's fight or stockpiling his home with cases of Pacifico Beer and cans of Pork N' Beans as an homage to his continuing obsession for his love that lies decaying in his bathtub. After befriending Eva, an odd duck of a neighbor, the two start a bizarre courtship leading to Roman's sheepishly proud admission at work as to having two girlfriends. As strange as it is odd, Roman is also beautifully shot, particularly the trippy dream scenes, the location shots of Roman taking "Isis's" body parts on isolated picnics, and the final devastating scene in Eva's apartment.
There are a great many "odd" things about the film "Roman." It features an odd choice of a leading man in Lucky McKee, who is best known for directing the cult hit "May." "Roman" covers a variety of odd subjects, such as death, obsession, and loss with a view uncommon to general cinema. It features an odd soundtrack full of wonderful alternate-country tunes and dusty old gems. "Roman" has odd unexpected appearances by fan-favorite television actors Kristen Bell and Eddie Steeples. But for all the odd things occurring in Angela Bettis's charming "Roman," the oddest is that while people line up at theaters to be "entertained" by forgettable dreck like "300," "Wild Hogs," and "Premonition," a great, memorable film like "Roman" will remain largely unseen. Maybe it's not that odd, just a little sad.
Roman (McKee) is your average fellow. He gets up and goes to work in the morning, doesn't exactly see eye to eye with his coworkers, and he enjoys the occasional beer after a hard day´s work. What separates him from the rest of the pack is that while many of us employ a television or books to bide our time, Roman prefers his own brand of entertainment. He likes to set up the easy chair in front of his apartment window and watch the activities of his neighbor, whom he has never met but in a fit of obsession named Isis (Kristen Bell). After a chance meeting on the roof of their apartment building, Roman and "Isis" talk over a couple of bottles of Pacifico, and a discussion of how cans of Pork n' Beans are created sparks a genuine attraction between the two. But later on in Roman's apartment, things go horribly wrong. The uncomfortably awkward and lonely Roman lets it slip that he's been watching her from afar for quite some time now. "Isis," understandably unnerved, attempts to escape his apartment but after a tussle gets out of hand, she ends up dead on his floor. The next day, after overhearing neighbors and police officers discuss her lack of family and friends, Roman concludes that his "accident" will remain unknown and takes advantage of his isolation. Stocking up on air fresheners and bags of ice, Roman decides to keep his relationship with "Isis" alive, even if she is not.
"Roman" is a wonderful companion piece to the aforementioned "May," starring "Roman's" director Angela Bettis and directed by "Roman" star Lucky McKee. While the brilliant "May" centers around Bettis's lonely, isolated, and mentally unbalanced character taking parts of people she liked to create a person that could love her a la Dr. Frankenstein, "Roman" represents the doctor's monster itself. Alone and misunderstood by the world at large Roman is so overjoyed during his first real connection with another human that his exuberance in keeping that moment alive leads to his most-cherished desire's death. Much like the scene in Whale's "Frankenstein" where the monster, having finally found an understanding playmate in the child Maria, misunderstands the method of their game and ultimately kills the girl.
hile "Roman" gets off to a slow start and maintains that pace throughout, it's one of those films that actually benefits from its momentum, its less drive. It's the odd and unnerving things that Roman does that keeps the movie afloat, like drawing a TV on his wall so he can have a conversation with his coworkers about last night's fight or stockpiling his home with cases of Pacifico Beer and cans of Pork N' Beans as an homage to his continuing obsession for his love that lies decaying in his bathtub. After befriending Eva, an odd duck of a neighbor, the two start a bizarre courtship leading to Roman's sheepishly proud admission at work as to having two girlfriends. As strange as it is odd, Roman is also beautifully shot, particularly the trippy dream scenes, the location shots of Roman taking "Isis's" body parts on isolated picnics, and the final devastating scene in Eva's apartment.
Roman (McKee) is your average fellow. He gets up and goes to work in the morning, doesn't exactly see eye to eye with his coworkers, and he enjoys the occasional beer after a hard day´s work. What separates him from the rest of the pack is that while many of us employ a television or books to bide our time, Roman prefers his own brand of entertainment. He likes to set up the easy chair in front of his apartment window and watch the activities of his neighbor, whom he has never met but in a fit of obsession named Isis (Kristen Bell). After a chance meeting on the roof of their apartment building, Roman and "Isis" talk over a couple of bottles of Pacifico, and a discussion of how cans of Pork n' Beans are created sparks a genuine attraction between the two. But later on in Roman's apartment, things go horribly wrong. The uncomfortably awkward and lonely Roman lets it slip that he's been watching her from afar for quite some time now. "Isis," understandably unnerved, attempts to escape his apartment but after a tussle gets out of hand, she ends up dead on his floor. The next day, after overhearing neighbors and police officers discuss her lack of family and friends, Roman concludes that his "accident" will remain unknown and takes advantage of his isolation. Stocking up on air fresheners and bags of ice, Roman decides to keep his relationship with "Isis" alive, even if she is not.
"Roman" is a wonderful companion piece to the aforementioned "May," starring "Roman's" director Angela Bettis and directed by "Roman" star Lucky McKee. While the brilliant "May" centers around Bettis's lonely, isolated, and mentally unbalanced character taking parts of people she liked to create a person that could love her a la Dr. Frankenstein, "Roman" represents the doctor's monster itself. Alone and misunderstood by the world at large Roman is so overjoyed during his first real connection with another human that his exuberance in keeping that moment alive leads to his most-cherished desire's death. Much like the scene in Whale's "Frankenstein" where the monster, having finally found an understanding playmate in the child Maria, misunderstands the method of their game and ultimately kills the girl.
hile "Roman" gets off to a slow start and maintains that pace throughout, it's one of those films that actually benefits from its momentum, its less drive. It's the odd and unnerving things that Roman does that keeps the movie afloat, like drawing a TV on his wall so he can have a conversation with his coworkers about last night's fight or stockpiling his home with cases of Pacifico Beer and cans of Pork N' Beans as an homage to his continuing obsession for his love that lies decaying in his bathtub. After befriending Eva, an odd duck of a neighbor, the two start a bizarre courtship leading to Roman's sheepishly proud admission at work as to having two girlfriends. As strange as it is odd, Roman is also beautifully shot, particularly the trippy dream scenes, the location shots of Roman taking "Isis's" body parts on isolated picnics, and the final devastating scene in Eva's apartment.
No comments:
Post a Comment