This is a movie about a middle aged man working in a retro-future where beaucracy is king. He is a simple man that knows how things work but doesn't have any ambition to improve himself or his place in life. His mother, who can pull some strings, has other plans and wants him to get promoted. Well he refused the promotion until he realizes that by getting the promotion he can hook up with this mysterious girl who he had only known in his dreams. So in a way this is a love story about a man trying to find the woman of his dreams (literally).
Ok, here's the real story. This movie is a dream of a middle aged adult male. It is part of a trilogy created by Gilliam. The first one is about the dream of a child called Time Bandits. The second one is this movie. The third movie is called The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and this is the dream of an old man. Sorry ladies you have to get someone else to do your dreams on film. These movies should not be watched and taken literally, rather you should view this movie as a dream put on film. It just makes sense that way. If you view it as real life then you will be hopelessly confused and bugged by the many inconsistencies in this movie. But by viewing the whole movie as a dream caught on film everything makes sense.
The third way you can view it is him going in and out of day dreaming. I don't agree with this interpretation because of the many inconsistencies between what is "real" and what is not.
The fourth way is to view it as a movie made through the eyes of a delusional, unstable man. This works in interpreting the movie, but 12 Monkeys did that in a much better way.
If you view this movie as a dream then everything just makes sense. The story is entertaining and beautifully told. As I said, it is a love story. Guy searches for girl, guy meets girl, guy gets kicked out of cab by girl; your typical love story.
The acting The acting made this movie. The actors are strong, deliberate, whimsical, and bizarre; all at the same time. These are great actors that pushed the limits of their characters.
Jonathan Pryce takes the lead role. He is a strong actor with a commanding presence. But Pryce shows the wide range of emotions that Sam Lowry had. He was a very complex character and I find no fault with how Pryce played him. A beautiful and perplexing performance.
Katherine Helmond plays Sam Lowry's mother, Mrs. Ida Lowry. She is demanding, whimsical, full of energy, and loves attention. She is in direct contrast to what Sam is but a mirror of what Sam wants to be like deep down. She is a piece of Sam, the piece that wants out, to break free.
Iam Holmes plays Sam's boss and does a marvelous job of playing the clueless boss. I loved him in Lord of the Rings, but I think he did a better job with his role in this film. He was able to make a character that you both adored and hated at the same time.
Robert De Niro played a small role and a bizarre one at that. Anyone could have played that role and it was a very brief role. Don't see it for him. This character was a man's man. Someone that could solve any problem, and for me a strong desire for us is our ability to solve problems (one of those things that separates us from women).
The story and writing Bizarre, confusing, and brilliant all at the same time. It is not your typical love story, it is a very creative and ingeniously written movie. The story is simple, it is just the dream of a man. But like my dreams, it takes a lot of weird turns and twists throughout the movie. Like other movies done by Gilliam, it is very creative and very well done.
The character development This is a weaker part of the film. I never felt like I knew the characters intimately, even the lead character lacked some depth. The writing cared more about Sam's actions rather than exploring who Sam is. Maybe this is due to it being a dream and no one really has any character in dreams, but I think more could have been done in this department. This is one of the weaker areas of the movie.
The pacing I'd summarize it as "interesting". The pace is great throughout the film but sometimes you're not sure where it is going. Sort of like Indiana Jones the ride at Disneyland. This isn't a movie that follows a pattern or sets up a joke. It sort of gets into a higher gear before you realize it. It has that sort of deception to the flow. Does it ever stop? No, and that is one of the great things about this movie, it is edited and timed nearly perfectly. But it is not an action movie and does not have the fast pace of an action movie, rather it is a brisk walk with an occasional sprint or fast run. You don't have to worry about being bored if you have a mature and functioning brain (see notes below). For the young, or those that do not want to think, it is agonizing to watch.
The special effects This is the weakest part of the film and it just sucks. They used model cars that blew up, some smoke here and there, nothing exceptional or innovative. Even though it is almost a decade past Star Wars, its special effects are decades old. Some may find it nostalgic or say that this is referenced to the dreamer being asleep. I just chalk it up to a small budget.
Replay value Not great. I don't want to watch this film at the drop of a hat. I have to be in a weird mood. If you are not in a mood to think, then this is not a good film for you.
Should children watch it? No. One "F" word, 5 or so "S" words. Frolicking on a bed. Brief nudity. And children will be bored with this movie. Most teenagers will be bored.
Should you watch it while stoned? I first saw this movie at the midnight theatre in college, I was in total awe of this movie. It was so bizarre, creative, and weird. I loved it but certainly didn't understand it at the time. Well the two people in front of me pulled out some marijuana and smoked it before the movie started. They had no idea what was going on and left halfway through because their brains were nonfunctioning. Needless to say, smoking before this film is highly un-recommended. You have to use your brain to enjoy this film.
Genre Fantasy
The key players Director: Terry Gilliam Screenplay: Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard Music: Michael Kamen
My line. This is a wonderfully creative movie. While it doesn't cure cancer, it is a great movie that does make you think. It is a dream and it does show the issues a middle aged man is concerned with. For that reason I appreciate it and how Gilliam has approached this life. It also gives children and women a little view of what makes a man think, at least in his dreams.
Brazil constitutes Terry Gilliam's enormously ambitious follow-up to his 1981 Time Bandits. It also represents the second installment in a trilogy of ...More at Barnes and Noble
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