Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Mister Lonely (2007)
Director: Harmony Korine
Movie review
From Time Out London
Its oddball heart may be in the right place, but Harmony Korine’s first film in eight years is a right old mess. But what else would you expect, or want, from the writer-director of ‘Gummo’ and ‘Julien Donkey-Boy’, two of the most offbeat American movies of the ’90s that threw plot out of the window to leave you alone with discomforting images and screwed-up characters?
‘Mister Lonely’ is a bonkers, sad tale of a Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) who hooks up in Paris with a Marilyn Monroe lookalike (Samantha Morton) who whisks him off to a commune in Scotland where James Fox is the Pope, Denis Lavant is Chaplin, Anita Pallenberg is the Queen and others play spitting images of Little Red Riding Hood, Abe Lincoln and Madonna.
Meanwhile, in a parallel plot, Werner Herzog is a pilot in the developing world shepherding nuns through the skies to throw packages to villages. When a nun survives a fall from a plane, she sparks a hunger for miracles among her sisterhood.
You know this isn’t a film that cares much for acting or other such values when a wooden Leos Carax graces a cameo. It’s more a collage of dressing-up box moments that is charming in its naïvety and very funny in places; Herzog is a deadpan highlight. For this, Korine has shed his desire to shock and seeks warmer, happier human truths.
That said, the film is too long, not nearly as funny as it hopes, and some plot elements (what’s with the sheep?) are extraneous to the improvised mood. There are messages in the madness about rejecting glory and finding happiness in love, friendship and faith, but you have to fight hard to connect the nuns to Wacko Jacko.
Author: Dave Calhoun
Time Out London 1960 March 12 - 18
User reviews of this film
-
- billy said...
- Posted on Jun 02 2008 21:43 too long, too sentimental in places but this is great film-making. poetic, visual, absurd, strangely emotive, funny at times, disturbing at other times - what more could anyone want from a film! who needs plot twists and clear narrative! go see it. it's the best thing you'll see all year!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- ben said...
- Posted on Mar 16 2008 11:13 A bit of a mess but wonderly poetic, at times very funny and great performances. Some of the magic of "Gummo" but less coherent.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Phillipe said...
- Posted on Mar 15 2008 23:49 This film was the biggest load of cr*p I've seen in a lomg time! Sorry.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Harmony Korine
Cast: Diego Luna, Samantha Morton, Denis Lavant, Léos Carax, Werner Herzog, James Fox, Melita Morgan, Anita Pallenberg, Jason Pennycooke, David Blaine, Esme Creed-Miles, Joseph Morgan, Richard Strange full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Rated: 15
Duration: 113 mins
UK Release: Mar 14 2008
US Release: May 2 2008
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
James Marsh on ‘Man on Wire’
James Marsh tells David Jenkins the amazing story of ‘Man on Wire’ and how he saw the Twin Towers go up – and come down
Gurinder Chada on ‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’
Gurinder Chada, the director of Brit hit, 'Bend it Like Beckham' discusses her new film, ‘Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging’ with Wally Hammond
A holiday guide to movie dystopias
‘Going anywhere nice this summer, sir?’ To celebrate the release of Pixar’s sublime post-apocalyptic robo-romance ‘Wall-E’, Time Out offers a tour guide of the best future worlds in film
Eddie Murphy's Crimes Against Cinema
We all remember the comic highs of 'Beverly Hills Cop' and 'Bowfinger', but Eddie Murphy has been in a fair few stinkers as well. Time Out to presents a handy rundown of his ten darkest cinematic hours...






What do you think?
Post your review now