Based on the novel by Mitch Cullin, TIDELAND follows the story of young Jeliza-Rose (Jodelle Ferland), the daughter of junkie parents Noah (Jeff Bridges), an aging rock-and-roller, and Queen Gunhilda (Jennifer Tilly), a mean-spirited chocoholic. After her mother overdoses, Jeliza-Rose and Noah move to his mother's derelict home .. Read more
| Starring | Janet McTeer, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Tilly, Jodelle Ferland |
|---|---|
| Director | Terry Gilliam |
| Genres | Drama |
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Based on the novel by Mitch Cullin, TIDELAND follows the story of young Jeliza-Rose (Jodelle Ferland), the daughter of junkie parents Noah (Jeff Bridges), an aging rock-and-roller, and Queen Gunhilda (Jennifer Tilly), a mean-spirited chocoholic. After her mother overdoses, Jeliza-Rose and Noah move to his mother's derelict home in the middle of nowhere. As Noah gets lost on one of his 'vacations'--a euphemism for his drug trips--Jeliza-Rose becomes friends with the emotionally and physically challenged Dickens (Brendan Fletcher), despite being terrified of his sister, the witch-like Dell (Janet McTeer). Meanwhile, Jeliza-Rose slips deeper into her own fantasy world, particularly with her doll heads Mustique, Sateen Lips, Glitter Gal, and Baby Blonde--one of which falls down a dark and narrow rabbit hole--and a mysterious talking squirrel that is trying to tell her something important. Aesthetically, Gilliam's film is reminiscent of the famous Andrew Wyeth painting 'Christina's World', with its bizarre and macabre set pieces. The eclectic soundtrack features such original songs as 'Wash Me In The Blood Of Jesus' and 'Van Gogh in Hollywood' (the latter performed by Bridges as the leader of a heavy metal band). TIDELAND is a challenging film from start to finish; as disturbing as PSYCHO and as fantastical as ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.
| Starring | Janet McTeer, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Tilly, Jodelle Ferland, Brendan Fletcher |
|---|---|
| Director | Terry Gilliam |
| Studio | REVOLVER ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 58 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 29 Jan 2007 Production year: 2005 |
| Format | DVD |
Terry Gilliam has had a tough run of luck in recent years, with the sad demise of his long-gestating Don Quixote... read more on Time Out
Described by Gilliam as Alice in Wonderland meets Psycho this poetically faithful, low budget adaptation of Mitch Cullins novel, is arguable his most disturbing and distinctive film to-date. Bold and original, this painful odyssey within a lonely childs imagination has a strange awkward beauty that will not be to everyones taste. Gilliams approach to visual language is radical; he is prepared to take enormous risks while paying attention to the smallest texture and details. When it pays off, as it does in the accurate sense of scale of this tiny female narrators inner world - it is a wondrous achievement.
Jeliza Rose (Jodelle Ferland) sits inside the topsy-turvy landscape of an upturned bus, conversing with a chorus of disembodied Barbie doll heads. Although this, the first of many dark claustrophobic interiors, may briefly light up with CGI generated firefly fairies, rest assured, this is not Disney. Jelizas train wreck of a family swiftly derails any romanticised notions of childhood. After her abusive, bloated, chocoholic mother (Jennifer Tilley), dies of a methadone overdose, Jeliza and her drug addled, aging, rock star father (Jeff Bridges) set off in true fairy tale style to grandmas house. However, grandmas long dead, the house a dilapidated ruin and now after his last hit father rigidly stares at the wall while emitting strange smells.
Cast adrift in the wild oceanic beauty of the surrounding Saskatchewan prairies and Pecorinis ravishing widescreen lensing, Jeliza appears shipwrecked in an Andrew Wyeth painting. Emotionally and physically starving Jeliza encounters a talking squirrel, an eccentric taxidermist in a black beekeepers bonnet (Janet McTeer) and the brave sea captain and slayer of the monster shark (Brendan Fletcher). The most authentic testament of a childs attempt to survive neglect and abuse, and affecting exploration of the consequences of using fantasy as a coping mechanism since TARNATION.
Dear Mr Gilliam.
You introduced this film with an announcement. Some of us weren't going to like what we were about to see. Damn right (and not a great way to set up your audience).
So let's look at the reasoning for your apology - the film we were about to see is seen through the eyes of a child, or a child's imagination if you like. Great, I can accept that. As we grow older, we lose sight of what it is to be a child, to see the world with such innocence. No, not me, not got a problem with that.
The problem I do have, Mr G, is that it's all very well delivering a film through the eyes of a child, but the story we see still has to be dramatic. And by that, I don't expect car chases, explosions (though you deliver there, eventually) or kung-fu. But equally, I don't want to be waiting and waiting for something to happen, some kind of arc or shape to the narrative that really engages me.
There's nothing wrong with the accents, nothing really wrong with the performances. But film is about story. And I just didn't care.
I really, really wanted to like this and had great expectations.
But, I'm afraid, you were right. Some of us weren't going to like it.
Note to audience: If self-indulgence is your thing, jump right in.
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