Review 562: High-Rise
Based on the novel High-Rise by J. G. Ballard, Dr. Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) feels like he's made it - he's moved into a luxury high-rise, seeking soulless anonymity. However, the building's residents have no intentions of leaving him alone and it isn't long before the veneer of civilisation begins to collapse and darker human urges begin to surface and Laing's good manner and sanity disintegrate along with the building.
First you don't know where it's going and then you don't care where it's going because the overall narrative is so unpredictably chaotic and its humor is so perverse.
At its core, High-Rise is a social satire. It's about revolution and who are the winners and the losers: the wealthier residents live on the top floors whilst more common families live down below at the bottom. Very quickly it becomes apparent that the people on top are getting all the good stuff whilst the people at the bottom aren't.
Admittedly, this is not a film for everyone. Your millage may vary, but I have to admire Ben Wheatley for crafting something so advent guard and outrageous.
Director Ben Wheatly's direction is bold and unobtrusive: making excellent usage of wides, overheads, pans and low angles to create a serial atmosphere. The cinematography is fabulous, the lighting is the costumes are majestic and help reflect the various classes of the building. The score by Clint Mansell is marvellously innovative - of particular note is the usage of an instrumental version of ABBA's SOS during a party scene which helps to set the mood
It outwardly seems idyllic but
Tom Hiddleston delivers an enigmatic and elusive performance playing Dr. Robert Laing. Initially, he moves into the High-Rise to get away from responsibility
Jeremy Irons Anthony Royale is the architect, who designed the High-Rise, and he lives in the top penthouse, so he's
Comments
Post a Comment