Oh
boy, where do I begin with this one? Let me start by saying that Gerry is an extremely
experimental film featuring a mostly improvised plot structure. Let me end by
saying that this picture was one major bitch slap to the audience. It was directed
by Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, Good Will Hunting) and stars Good Will Hunting
participants Matt Damon and Casey Affleck as a couple of buddies who find themselves
lost following a lengthy hike in the mountains. This is followed by one of the
most painfully tedious series of events ever captured on film. One might argue
that this is audacious film making. What a crock. Essentially, this movie is about
two guys who get lost, and we experience their misery in real time. This isn't
to say that Gerry doesn't have a couple of bright moments. There's a funny scene
in which Affleck is stuck atop a high rock (who the hell knows how he got up there?)
and can't figure out how to get down. The scene lasts far too long but the end
result is...interesting. Actually, Affleck and Damon are quite engaging particularly
when they're talking (which is for about a combined ten minutes of the film's
one hour and forty five minute running time). But the long, boring tracking shots
of these two buddies walking across the landscape are both dull and pointless.
But then I guess being pointless is the point of this tedious film. Van Sant knows
how to shoot gorgeous mountain vistas but this underdeveloped tale of friendship
and survival is absolutely forgettable. I will, however, give minor props for
it's eerie Twilight Zone-esque ending which, in a sick sort of way, kind of made
me chuckle. This hardly makes up for the rest of the experience though. The
notion of actually getting lost is more appealing then the thought of ever having
to sit through this movie again.
