Poetry In Slllooowww Motion

I have always been of the opinion that slow doesn't always have to mean boring. Judgement At Nurmeberg, Dances With Wolves, JFK, are all excellent examples of slow-burning, thought provoking film making at its best.

The main problem with Gerry is not that it is slow, but rather that it is contradictory, and loses us, the viewers, at the pivotal moments.

Rather like the film, the storyline is simple. Two friends, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, lose their car in the desert, and cannot find it. It may sound like not a lot happens, and not a lot does. But then, this is the beauty of the film.

It feels much longer than its length, and despite its simplicity, seems to require great concentration and attention. Lingering shots of desert, of changing skylines and stretches of rock, while possibly misplaced in other movies, only serve to support what is a calm and often solemn ambience.

But, what ruined it for me was this: After an hour and a half of blissful, thoughless, dreamy and poetic film, I was suddenly thrown a curveball. I had to think. And this, coming out of the blue, ruined what was otherwise a serene viewing experience. It was like someone suddenly watched the film float past and said 'Wait! We need an ending!'

Sadly, they should've chosen a little more wisely, as Gerry can only be ranked amongst the 'almosts'.