The Cannes boo is the annual terrorist attack of . Director: Richard Kelly. "ZORA: "You just wait and see." Ambitious and arresting to the eye -- the gray palette serves the film well -- it's too bad that Southland Tales is also pretentious, chaotic, and tries too hard. When a confrontation erupts near the Neo-Marxist drop box, Zora and Bart are both killed by a soldier. [It] restores an uncanny to American culture, she wrote in Fetishism and Curiosity, that the uncanny president disavows. In Southland Tales we have a movie whose frenetic, all-American surrealism its blend of censorship and sexuality, commerce and violence spookily pre-empted the prevailing culture under Donald Trump a decade before he was elected president. "Martin Kefauver: He is the angel of death that rides on the horse (the ice cream truck) Nowadays, the debate surrounding freedom, privacy,. ("Taverner" is the name of the main character in the same book and suffers identity problems of his own.) In Donnie Darko, the world ends when the Tangent Universe collapses, which may also be what happens at the end of Southland Tales. Southland Tales is a 2006 thriller and comedy-drama film and the second film of Richard Kelly. Southland Tales After twin terrorist attacks in Texas, the Republican party grabs the overwhelming majority of Congressional seats in the 2006 midterm elections by stoking public fear and claiming that America is living though the end times. The soundtrack does not feature all the music from the film, probably due to rights/royalties issues. It's easy to empathize with his position, not so easy to remain engrossed in a film that's occasionally inspired but ultimately manic and scattered. Violence has erupted throughout the city. Likewise, Kellys casting is not simply of the period, but inspired by its teenybopper culture: Dwayne The Rock Johnson, fresh from working as a wrestler; the singer and sometime actress Mandy Moore; Seann William Scott, an American Pie alumnus; Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of Cruel Intentions and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and the pop star Justin Timberlake. Boxer meets Fortunio on the beach after his rendezvous with Starla. The purpose of these novels is to explain much of the back-story and set the viewer up for parts IV, V and VI in the movie itself.An article titled Everything you were afraid to ask about Southland Tales. A tide-powered generator, however, relies on an external source of power, the tides, and would not fall under that definition. She became psychic when a plane she was on -- United 23 -- flew through the rift in space-time above Lake Mead. That's why Taverner always feels so guilty. For reasons that never become entirely clear, he was hired by the Baron to kidnap Boxer Santaros from a charity scavenger hunt and drive him to Lake Mead. Where does the information in this FAQ come from? What's up with Baron Von Westphalen (Wallace Shawn)? Amy Poehler and Wood Harris appear as Neo-Marxist activists. Scientists are saying the futures going to be far more futuristic than they originally predicted, Krysta suggests, as if this helped to explain anything. The three perform an abstract dance. "The Star Spangled Banner" by Rebekah del Rio & The Section Quartet14. Pilot Abilene (Justin Timberlake) quotes Biblical scripture from the Book of Revelation in narrating the film and allusion is made both to Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and an altered version of T. S. Eliot's The Hollow Men. Boxer and Ronald have stopped for some lunch. Their hands begin to glow. No idea. Running time: 160 minutes. "3 Steps" by Moby9. All three graphic novels were written by Richard Kelly, with artwork by Brett Weldele. Protector of the Messiah/False ProphetRoland Taverner: The critic Laura Mulvey once suggested Blue Velvet, having been released in 1986, was the ideal film for the mood of the Reagan era. "Kelly launches Darko Entertainment", by Dade Hayes, "How The World Ends: Conversation With Richard Kelly", "Anatomy of a Cannes Disaster: What Happened After 'Southland Tales' Was Booed", "Exclusive Interview: Richard Kelly (Southland Tales)", Southland Tales - Music From The Motion Picture, "Apocalypse Soon: A Mushroom Cloud Doesn't Stall 2008 Electioneering". A pregnant woman, a dragon and two beasts; They are the puppets of the Anti-ChristRevelation 22:12: Three days later, he is discovered in the desert near Lake Mead. It's OK to be confused by Richard Kelly's "Southland Tales.". Above him, Pilot Abilene (Justin Timberlake) sits in a gun turret and recites from the Book of Revelation, Robert Frost's poem "The Two Roads" and an inverted version of T.S. As in "Southland Tales," a character in "Kiss Me Deadly" picks up a stranger in the desert, and one of the main characters in the film is named after a poet. Eventually, the Antichrist will show up and take over the world. Dr. Severin Exx read Krysta the Book of Revelation while she was under hypnosis. The first three chapters of the story are told in a graphic novel called Southland Tales: The Prequel Saga, which among other things explains Roland Traveler's back story, Boxer's journey from the desert back to Los Angeles, and the true origin of Krysta and Boxer's screenplay. Edit, Those who use Fluid Karma are "Chemical Bleeders" (e.g. Edit, The film was originally meant to be released in the autumn of 2006 but was pushed back a year to a limited release in the winter of 2007. Who does the name "Bing Zinneman" refer to. It is suddenly interrupted when Boxer pulls out a gun and threatens to kill himself unless everybody evacuates the mega-zeppelin. Edit, No. "And God wiped the tears from his eyes, so the new Messiah could see out to the New Jerusalem." The name of Dr. Severin Exx is a reference to the name of an evil doctor in the movie "Kiss Me Deadly," and Boxer Santaros' convertible is the same car driven by Ralph Meeker in the 1955 film. Edit, Richard Kelly stated in his interview with Empire, Thumbprint identification is becoming much more prominent. He then asked her to forecast the last three days on Earth, and she made her prediction in the form of a screenplay: "The Power." Then, after several detours, Krysta and Boxer made their way to Los Angeles, where Boxer went on a nighttime stroll on the beach, injected himself with fluid karma and passed out. He then asked her to forecast the last three days on Earth, and she made her prediction in the form of a screenplay: "The Power." Metacritic Reviews. I think defecation is the result of an inferior food supply and spiritual weakness. Zelda Rubinstein and Beth Grant portray Dr. Katarina Kuntzler and Dr. Inga Von Westphalen, members of the baron's entourage. They will start speaking out against the Antichrist and begin overthrowing the evil empire. Its story overlaps with the movie, so it explains some of the back story. While Ronald is briefly distracted, Boxer is beckoned over by Serpentine, who has been hovering nearby. "Lucky Me" by Roger Webb8. Special features include a 33-minute documentary USIDent TV: Surveiling the Southland and a 10-minute animated short film This Is the Way the World Ends (which was not included on the R2 and R4 editions). (Krystas pop album is called Teen Horniness is Not a Crime.) Does Sarah Michelle Gellar have a sex scene in this movie? What are all of those tattoos on the body of Boxer Santaros (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson)? [26], Southland Tales was initially planned to be a nine-part "interactive experience", with the first six parts published in six 100-page graphic novels that would be released in a six-month period up to the film's release. Eliot's "Hollow Man" ("This is the way the world ends/ Not with a bang but with a whimper") and Robert Frost's "The Two Roads" ("Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-/ I took the one less traveled by"). Kelly wrote Southland Tales shortly before the September 11 attacks. She tells him that he must board the mega-zeppelin and what he is looking for is in the Baron's private chamber. Cane loses consciousness. Ronald persuades him not to commit suicide, and the two decide to go to Mexico. According to the "Prequel Saga," "The Power" was written entirely by Krysta Now, who is apparently psychic. Fifteen years after Southland Tales was booed out of the Cannes Film Festival, director Richard Kelly tells Inverse he embraces the chorus of jeers. This release will include both the original theatrical cut and the Cannes cut. If this is a parallel with the Book of Revelation, then who's whom? When Boxer and Taverner went through the space-time rift, they traveled 69 minutes back in time -- creating duplicate versions of themselves. Shortly after they received their first injection of fluid karma, however, Taverner and Abilene were sent on a mission to Fallujah, and Taverner accidentally injured Abilene with a grenade -- disfiguring him. . Just before it hits, Boxer extends his arms, and his tattoo of Jesus begins to bleed in the nape of his neck. Kelly sought more financing to finish visual effects for the film, and he negotiated a deal with Sony to cut down on the film's length in exchange for funds to complete the visual effects. As part of the deal, the Baron has Serpentine cut off the prime minister's left hand. In particular, Southland Tales apes his Four Lines, All Waiting style of plotting, his sci-fi meets religion Mind Screw nuttiness, his themes of identity and counterfeits, his gratuitous mixing of high literature and pop culture references, his Medium Awareness twists about characters believing fiction is secretly communicating to them, and an He said, "[The original script] was more about making fun of Hollywood. The movie begins in earnest when Boxer wakes up on a beach near the Santa Monica pier. Donnie Darko had just debuted there in January of 2001 and as soon as he got back, Richard. It also works as a drug. On the mega-zeppelin, Krysta Now performs a dance number. The Treer generators were slowing the rotation of Earth by .0000006 mile per hour (.9 inch per day, or 2.3 centimeters per day), per day, which caused strange effects around the world. Using the graphic novels, the Book of Revelation, friends and whatever else we could find, we've pieced together everything you need to know (or at least everything we've been able to figure out) about "Southland Tales.". Thinking it's her sex tape with Boxer, she takes it with her. He has the solution to the energy crisis and becomes the most powerful man on earth. On September 8, 2008, it was announced that it would be one of the five films being released on Blu-ray on November 18, 2008. Shortly after they received their first injection of fluid karma, however, Taverner and Abilene were sent on a mission to Fallujah, and Taverner accidentally injured Abilene with a grenadedisfiguring him. Filmmakers entered negotiations with actors Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Lee, Janeane Garofalo, Tim Blake Nelson, Amy Poehler, Kevin Smith, and Ali Larter. Edit, He had fulfilled his purpose on the earth and as witness to the coming of the next age, saw his body as an empty shell and gave it away. He called it a "strange hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. Its plot hinges on a barely explained back story involving rifts in the fourth dimension. Beasts from Revelation 12 and 13 (Puppet of the Anti-Christ)Baron Von Westphalen: The world ends. When Fortunio and Boxer arrive at the rendezvous point, this is where the two are introduced to one another [7] The title refers to the Southland, a name used by locals to refer to Southern California and the Greater Los Angeles area. Why would Martin let himself die after he killed everyone on the Mega-Zeppelin? The restaurant starts floating into space. Edit, Three days before the movie starts, Krysta Now was vacationing on a houseboat on Lake Mead with Ronald Taverner, Tab Taverner (Ronald's father) and Fortunio Balducci. Blue, in an hour you feel new, and you can forget about Mellow yellow or Agent Orange, 'cause hey, I'm giving you blood red." Messiah ( forgives sins)"I forgive you. Edit, Operation Dream Theory was an experiment created by Treer. . As part of his job, Jericho must tattoo a symbol from every world religion onto his body and, when the Messiah reaches maturity, the "winning" religion's symbol will bleed snake blood. It may seem really amateurish at first, letting things like that "this is the way the world ends" quote fly from all directions throughout the film. [19] Kelly describes the negative reaction at Cannes as a "very painful experience on a lot of levels" but ultimately felt that the film "was better off because of it". Why does the messiah (e.g. The film was released in the UK on December 7, 2007, exclusively to UK cinema chain Cineworld in a limited number of locations. Cheri Oteri plays Zora Carmichaels, while Jon Lovitz plays violent police officer Bart Bookman who is in love with Zora. A newsletter showcasing the finest writing from the ideas section, covering political ideas, philosophy, criticism and intellectual history - sent every Wednesday. As the movie explains, the compound is being used by the Baron to power his energy plants, hence the energy field produced is named after it.The compound also works as a drug, which comes in several forms with different effects, as mentioned by Pilot Abilene: "Green, you dream. Everything and everyone is bedazzled in red, white, and blue; burgers and Buds are happily consumed on the lawn of every McMansion. "Three Days [Live Version]" by Jane's Addiction15. Kelly has said in interviews that the film was partially made in response to the rise of apocalyptic evangelism in the United States. During their discussion, they learn that Ronald has been dreaming of Boxer. In Donnie Darko, the world ends when the Tangent Universe collapses, which may also be what happens at the end of Southland Tales. When they join hands, a bond is formed and the rule of singular existence is completely broken. Edit, Richard Kelly stated in his interview with Empire, Whenever Boxer becomes scared or agitated or paranoid, as a defence mechanism, Jericho Kane, the character he is playing (in the film "The Power" he is making), takes over. Kelly said: "[Southland Tales] will only be a musical in a post-modern sense of the word in that it is a hybrid of several genres. Treer knew of these effects and decided to use it to their advantage in the war. Eliot's "Hollow Man" ("This is the way the world ends/ Not with a bang but with a whimper") and Robert Frost's "The Two Roads" ("Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-/ I took the one less traveled by"). Tab wanted Ronald to help the Neo-Marxists destroy USIDent, so he entrusted Roland and Ronald to Zora Carmichaels, who then drove them to Venice Beach. Messiah = high spirituality. The reasons for this are never really explained, but Caleb is the child of Tawna and Rick McBride, a couple in Palmdale, Calif. Caleb does not produce bowel movements, but when he farts, the Earth shakes. For some reason, Wallace Shawn is dressed like a new-wave Japanese pimp. What's the deal with the Treer company, and why are there all these references to Karl Marx? Edit, After Roland Taverner came back from Iraq, he got a job as a police officer in Hermosa Beach, thanks to his father. It's filled with so many references and so much self-conscious irony that it's nearly impossible to make sense of it all. "Samuel Goldwyn to handle US distribution of Southland Tales", "Universal, Wild Bunch board Southland Tales", This Maligned 2006 Movie About Dystopian L.A. Is Too Real at This Point. In the "Southland Tales" universe, when war broke out following the nuclear attacks in Texas, Treer was contracted to build several mega-zeppelins to ferry troops and equipment across the world. The second section of the film ("V: Memory Gospel") begins. Ronald Taverner and Baby Caleb in "The Power") not have a bowel movement? Boxer Santaros is an action star who's stricken with amnesia. What does the Latin inscription "oderint dum metuant" on the UPU cars mean? The Tangent Universe is an alternate reality to our own. Tide power, and the wireless transmission of electricity, are scientific realities. Richard Kelly's science-fiction comedy was widely derided on release in 2006, but it has since found a cult audience. Roland Taverner, his (alleged) twin -- a racist cop -- is sitting unconscious in the main room, having been kidnapped and drugged by the Neo-Marxists. He played a character named "Donnie" in a movie with Boxer Santaros (in an obvious allusion to "Donnie Darko"). Edit, Awards ZORA: "You know there's this theory that humans will evolve to a state of existence where bowel movements are no longer necessary. "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death"Revelation 11: It turns out that Fortunio has been on the Baron's payroll all along. The Anti-ChristSerpentine: Krysta has decided to make her sex tape public by placing it into a Neo-Marxist drop box. After losing a game of cards, Fortunio needed to make his way back into California, and Krysta offered to set him up with a visa. | As Treer employees were interviewing the plane's passengers, they noticed that she was the only passenger who didn't suffer from amnesia and that she could see into the future. . What happens in the screenplay? If that wasnt enough, a German company whose CEO is played by Wallace Shawn has invented an infinite energy source called fluid karma. Cindy meets Vaughn Smallhouse at a restaurant and gives him a copy of the sex tape. What does the phrase "Do You Bleed" mean? There are now two versions of each co-existing in the same universetwo Boxer Santaros and two Roland Taverners. [12] Editorial changes were made to restructure the order of the film's scenes, including re-recording all of Timberlake's voice-over. The name may also reference the actor Fortunio Bonanova who starred as Carmen Trivago in the film Kiss Me Deadly, itself a considerable influence on Southland Tales. Second, fluid karma is the name used by Treer for the "hydroelectric energy field" produced by the their Utopia tidal generators. If "Southland Tales" is a semi-straightforward reinterpretation of the Book of Revelation, then Baron Von Westphalen is the Antichrist, Sen. Bobby Frost is probably his false prophet, Krysta Now is the Whore of Babylon, the two witnesses are probably Boxer Santaros and Roland Taverner, the white horse is the levitating ice cream truck, and Christ is Ronald and Roland Taverner. We learn that July 4 will be the launch date for the new Treer mega-zeppelin (the "Jenny Von Westphalen"). On July 4th, 2005, in a fictionalized United States alternate history reality, two towns in Texas (El Paso and Abilene) were destroyed by twin nuclear attacks, killing thousands and triggering a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions, sending America into a state of chaos and hysteria, as well as a Third World War (a fictionalized version of what the nation may have become under the War on Terror), with the US government re-introducing the draft. A cool guy. Which quotes from the Books of Revelation are used in the film? "Memory Gospel" by MobySongs Not Featured in on the soundtrackFrom the album Hotel by Moby (2-CD Deluxe Edition): "Snowball (played in opening sequence before opening title) "Blue Paper" (played when Dion and Dream are having discussion about bowel movements, also in trailer) "Overland" (heard before and after Pilot's dream sequence) "Aerial" "Hotel Intro" (featured in Cannes cut, not in theatrical cut) "Live Forever" (featured in Cannes cut, not in theatrical cut)Other songs not featured: Water Pistol" by Moby "If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)" by Louis Armstrong "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers "Planet Telex (Live in San Francisco)" by Radiohead Symphony No. In "Donnie Darko," the world ends when the Tangent Universe collapses, which may also be what happens at the end of "Southland Tales." He says, "It all ends tonight.". Edit, Richard Kelly stated in his interview with Empire film magazine, The idea of wireless electricity and tides being a source of energy, and there being a potentially world-altering energy source under the ocean, is based on real scientific theory. Through voiceover, we learn that Pilot Abilene was injected with fluid karma in Iraq, as part of an experiment by the Baron, and in his quest for global domination, the Baron has negotiated an agreement with the prime minister of Japan, Hideo Takahashi, for fluid karma. Inside the levitating ice cream truck, the two Taverners continue to hold hands. Most of the information in this FAQ can be attributed to three main sources:The three graphic novels that serve as a precursor to Southland Tales. Interview with Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried", "Southland Tales director hopes to reunite with Dwayne Johnson for planned sequel", "Richard Kelly Talks 'Southland Tales', The Time Travel Prequel & His James Cameron-Inspired 'Donnie Darko' Sequel [Interview]", Southland Tales: Music From The Motion Picture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southland_Tales&oldid=1140958996, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from July 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from September 2018, Articles with dead external links from March 2018, Short description is different from Wikidata, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Wave of Mutilation" (UK surf version) by, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 17:09. The Tangent Universe is an alternate reality to our own. His follow-up is a decidedly post-9/11 story, haunted by the Iraq War. Two months before Southland Tales was released, he announced the launch of Darko Entertainment.[15]. "The Power" is a pretty hilarious piece of work. Lukas Dhonts Close explores the abrupt end of boyhood, Martin McDonaghs The Banshees of Inisherin: a brilliantly nasty Irish fable, Universal Credit falls short of covering the bare essentials. Among his accomplices will be a "false prophet" -- a deceitful ruler. Is Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar) based on anyone? "[41], On the program Ebert & Roeper, Richard Roeper and guest critic Michael Phillips gave the film a negative review. The Region 1 DVD was released on March 18, 2008, in North America and the Region 2 release was on March 31, 2008, in the United Kingdom. There already exist generators powered by rivers or by wind, which clearly do not contravene physical law. The title refers to the Southland, a name used by locals to refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles. [16] Kelly consciously sought out actors that he felt had been pigeonholed and wanted to showcase their "undiscovered talents."[14]. And, of course, gets corrupted and goes mad. Roland, a Hermosa Beach police officer, became involved in a "deep conspiracy" and he would be in grave danger if anyone found out that he was alive. The Second Law of Thermodynamics refers to a closed system, wherein entropy will accumulate and efficiency will diminish until the system stops. Chemical Bleeders can see back in time while Natural Bleeders can see back and forward in time. The original script was written 6 years ago just after Richard and his team returned from Sundance. Several soldiers were selected (Pilot, Roland, Rick [from the graphic novels]) as test subjects and were injected with Fluid Karma before going out into battle. "[16] Kelly said the film's biggest influences are Kiss Me Deadly, Pulp Fiction, Brazil, and Dr. Strangelove. It stinks and we have to accept it. After losing a game of cards, Fortunio needed to make his way back into California, and Krysta offered to set him up with a visa. For . Back at USIDent headquarters, we learn that Boxer was kidnapped at a charity scavenger hunt several days earlier, and a charred body, presumed to be his, has been found in the desert near Lake Mead. Fluid karma is an "organic compound" that the Treer company discovered while drilling off the coast of Israel. Boxer walks up to the Frost mansion, where his wife, Madeline Frost (Mandy Moore), and the Frost team are waiting for him. The movie and prequel saga focus a lot on the "blood red" version of the drug which gives the person using the drug ability to see, or "bleed", into the past, and with repeated use, the future. This is the way the world ends not with a bang, but with a fascinating near three-hour disaster of a movie, as deranged as Heavens Gate and as distinctively mid-Noughties as a Juicy Couture tracksuit.