2016’s “Swiss Army Man”, written and directed by Dan Kwan
and Daniel Scheinert .
Starring Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, and Mary Elizabeth
Winstead.
What is it about?
Deserted Island resident Paul Dano is interrupted from
hanging himself when a corpse (none other than Daniel Radcliffe) washes ashore.
Initially, Radcliffe’s comatose but certainly not inert body proves useful (as
a jet ski and a drinking fountain)- but things continue to get stranger when
Radcliffe starts talking back to Dano. Grateful for a companion, Dano begins a
quest to return to civilization with Radcliffe, and connect with a crush (Mary
Elizabeth Winstead). Will this wayward couple be able to get home- and is
everything as it seems?
Why is it worth seeing?
Easily the strangest studio movie released in a while, the
movie’s initial “Cast Away” meets “Weekend at Bernie’s” premise delivers belly
laughs from the theatre of the absurd script by the Scheinert brothers. As the
film travels a clear cut quest from a bizarro perspective, it’s soundtrack
(featuring Dano and Radcliffe contributing double duties) and tone more closely
resemble the childlike “Where the Wild
Things Are.”
Dano and Radcliffe commit completely to the premise, and it’s
remarkable to watch Harry Potter go through various stages of rigor mortis
powered utility knife helpfulness for Dano. The ultimate listener, Radcliffe’s
presence powers Dano to let himself feel free and heal from previous traumas
that he is working through. What Dano has suffered from and what defence mechanisms
he has developed as coping strategies we find out as they get closer to
civilization, only to find out new revelations.
“Swiss Army Man”’s title is deceptive, as it is not simple,
nor for all tastes (the opposite of a swiss army knife). After it’s go for
broke opening and organic art direction, there lies painful discovery and
healing that needs to happen for our characters. There’s few things like it.
It’s uniqueness and Russian Doll nesting of mental health are tough to get out
of your head.
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