Friday, September 10, 2010
Michael Allen
Director: Werner Herzog.
Writers: Herbert Golder and Werner Herzog.
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? is a film from the production company Industrial Entertainment and distributors First Look Studios, which will release on DVD September 14. David Lynch acted as executive producer on the film, so there are several bizarre scenes and times of awkwardness. The film is based on the true story and life of murderer Mark Yavorsky, who killed his mother in a state of mental illness. Long, drawn out, and full of misadventures, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? is ten minutes of substance and eighty minutes of creative expression.
The plot is simple; a man in his thirties, living with his mother, is influenced and motivated by the Greek Tragedian Aesychlus' story entitled "The Libation Bearers." In this second story in a trilogy Orestes murders his mother in fit of vengance, after his mother has killed his father, in a power move to rule Greece. In My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? Mark Yarvorsky has been renamed Brad McCullum and Brad leads an emotionally incestuous relationship with his mother, as Mrs. McCullum enters his bedroom periodically throughout the film. A combination of external and internal elements e.g. participation in a murderous play, mental instability, and a mother son relationship without boundaries culminate in a matricide via longsword. The scenes involving midgets, conversations with oatmeal cans, and discussions of God are heavily influenced by Lynch and not beneficial to the plot.
A directing technique used by Herzog frequently in the film is the long frozen character stare at the camera. This occurs at least three times: once with Mrs. McCullum in Brad's bedroom, a second time with three characters at a diner placement involving Jell-O, and one more time with two characters and a midget staring blankly at the camera. This strange technique creates laughter, awkwardness, and later desire for movement in the story, as the plot comes to a complete halt ten minutes into the film. Lynch's purpose behind these shots is unknown and definitely open to various interpretations, but the pacing suffers unbelievably.
As well, a linear storyline is broken up with flashbacks of Yavorsky's life of travel to Peru, Tijuana and other exotic locales. Again, these remembrances do not further the story along, but they do develop the central character slightly. Mad utterances like: "I am going to stunt my inner growth...[so] call me Farooq" (My Son) show the absolute insanity of Brad, and there is some comedy here at the expense of this character. But what is this film all about?
Like much of Lynch's work the message is in the absurdity of the storytelling. It is not the action or interaction which is important to Lynch, but the act of storytelling. This will leave some viewers confused, some entertained, and some begging for the end of the film. Lynch's ability to arouse a complexity of emotions is what makes this film interesting; however, the story suffers by meandering down too many false and distracting trails.
This reviewer would only recommend this film to fans of Lynch and possibly even Herzog's fans, but this reviewer's knowledge of Herzog is limited to Rescue Dawn and Port of Call. Somewhat drawn out, and often meandering, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? is a good look at the outcomes of untreated mental illness, but the film could have taken a closer look as to why Yavorsky stepped over the edge into murder e.g. childhood experiences, previous institutionalizations, and trouble in social interactions. Instead, there are scenes of roaming little people and too many appearances of pink flamingos.
Plot/story/treatment/attitude: 6 (an interesting true story, undeveloped).
Acting/characters/believablity: 7 (a re-use of some of Herzog's favourite actors - so there is a comfortability in the acting).
Social Message/statement: 5.5 (will not even attempt this one).
Overall: 6.15 out of 10 (unity of action required here).
The film at First Look Studios:
My Son at First Look w/DVD Details
The film's official site:
My Son Homepage - Requires Flash
The film's fan page:
My Son on Facebook
Not solidly behind this one:
Advertise Here - Contact me Michael Allen at 28DLA
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Stumble It!
Subscribe to 28 Days Later: An Analysis by Email
Writers: Herbert Golder and Werner Herzog.
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? is a film from the production company Industrial Entertainment and distributors First Look Studios, which will release on DVD September 14. David Lynch acted as executive producer on the film, so there are several bizarre scenes and times of awkwardness. The film is based on the true story and life of murderer Mark Yavorsky, who killed his mother in a state of mental illness. Long, drawn out, and full of misadventures, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? is ten minutes of substance and eighty minutes of creative expression.
The plot is simple; a man in his thirties, living with his mother, is influenced and motivated by the Greek Tragedian Aesychlus' story entitled "The Libation Bearers." In this second story in a trilogy Orestes murders his mother in fit of vengance, after his mother has killed his father, in a power move to rule Greece. In My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? Mark Yarvorsky has been renamed Brad McCullum and Brad leads an emotionally incestuous relationship with his mother, as Mrs. McCullum enters his bedroom periodically throughout the film. A combination of external and internal elements e.g. participation in a murderous play, mental instability, and a mother son relationship without boundaries culminate in a matricide via longsword. The scenes involving midgets, conversations with oatmeal cans, and discussions of God are heavily influenced by Lynch and not beneficial to the plot.
A directing technique used by Herzog frequently in the film is the long frozen character stare at the camera. This occurs at least three times: once with Mrs. McCullum in Brad's bedroom, a second time with three characters at a diner placement involving Jell-O, and one more time with two characters and a midget staring blankly at the camera. This strange technique creates laughter, awkwardness, and later desire for movement in the story, as the plot comes to a complete halt ten minutes into the film. Lynch's purpose behind these shots is unknown and definitely open to various interpretations, but the pacing suffers unbelievably.
As well, a linear storyline is broken up with flashbacks of Yavorsky's life of travel to Peru, Tijuana and other exotic locales. Again, these remembrances do not further the story along, but they do develop the central character slightly. Mad utterances like: "I am going to stunt my inner growth...[so] call me Farooq" (My Son) show the absolute insanity of Brad, and there is some comedy here at the expense of this character. But what is this film all about?
Like much of Lynch's work the message is in the absurdity of the storytelling. It is not the action or interaction which is important to Lynch, but the act of storytelling. This will leave some viewers confused, some entertained, and some begging for the end of the film. Lynch's ability to arouse a complexity of emotions is what makes this film interesting; however, the story suffers by meandering down too many false and distracting trails.
This reviewer would only recommend this film to fans of Lynch and possibly even Herzog's fans, but this reviewer's knowledge of Herzog is limited to Rescue Dawn and Port of Call. Somewhat drawn out, and often meandering, My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? is a good look at the outcomes of untreated mental illness, but the film could have taken a closer look as to why Yavorsky stepped over the edge into murder e.g. childhood experiences, previous institutionalizations, and trouble in social interactions. Instead, there are scenes of roaming little people and too many appearances of pink flamingos.
Plot/story/treatment/attitude: 6 (an interesting true story, undeveloped).
Acting/characters/believablity: 7 (a re-use of some of Herzog's favourite actors - so there is a comfortability in the acting).
Social Message/statement: 5.5 (will not even attempt this one).
Overall: 6.15 out of 10 (unity of action required here).
The film at First Look Studios:
My Son at First Look w/DVD Details
The film's official site:
My Son Homepage - Requires Flash
The film's fan page:
My Son on Facebook
Not solidly behind this one:
Advertise Here - Contact me Michael Allen at 28DLA
| | Stumble It!Subscribe to 28 Days Later: An Analysis by Email
Posted in: acting,crime drama,david lynch,drama,first look studios,herbert golder,movie review,social message,suspense,thriller,werner herzog
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