Bug (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Bug (Special Edition)
Movie Review: Crawling with Paranoia
Summary: 5 Stars
William Friedkin's "Bug" is the kind of psychological thriller that doesn't rely on plausibility so much as it relies on solid character studies. This isn't to say that the film is implausible; truth be told, I don't think there's any way of knowing how realistic such situations are. But considering the disturbing intensity of the story and the strong dynamic between actors Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon, it's difficult to embrace these technicalities. This is easily one of the most unsettling films in recent memory, forcing the audience down an unpleasant path of paranoia that spirals out of control in a relatively short period of time. The film refuses to be a clear-cut study of insanity; there's a subtle brilliance to the way Friedkin explores uncertainty and panic, as if to say that we're not meant to have all the answers.
Nor should we. What is obvious is that, from the average person's point of view, every behavior in this film is overwhelmingly irrational. We get a small taste of this with the introduction of Agnes White (Judd), a divorcee living in a motel somewhere in the middle of Oklahoma. The first scene is of her receiving mysterious phone calls, in which the person at the other end says absolutely nothing. Already, she assumes that it's her violent, controlling ex-husband, Jerry Goss (Harry Connick, Jr.), recently released from prison on parole. Indeed, it does seem likely that he's making the calls. But does she know for sure? How can she know? How can the audience know? Even when he reenters her life later on in the film, it's impossible to come to any conclusions. It could be that Agnes is allowing her fear to take hold. The fact that she's incredibly lonely only adds to her erratic emotional state.
Then along comes Peter Evans (Shannon), an initially soft-spoken man with an underlying uneasiness that effectively makes us uncomfortable. He's a drifter with a hidden past who occasionally lets loose his expanded vocabulary (Agnes is initially confused by the word "matriarchal"). He makes it clear that he's not really interested in a sexual relationship (not at first, anyway); he merely wants to be friends. From the audience's perspective, everything about this situation is off; here are two fragile individuals looking for companionship under less than ideal circumstances. Is it any wonder that Agnes' willingness to take him in is unnerving? It doesn't help that she listens to him carefully, even when he begins spewing information about tiny bugs he thinks are infesting his bloodstream. In some sick way, it's as if he's telling her what she wants to hear.
The rest of the film veers into territory ruled purely by paranoia, the tension building itself until it becomes unbearably thick. Peter eventually reveals that he's an AWOL military officer; he believes that a faction of the government has injected him with thousands of microscopic aphids that have the ability to transmit information. He's now on the run from Dr. Sweet (Brian F. O'Byrne), the man responsible for conducting the experiments. Not only is he able to convince Agnes of this, he also makes her believe that she has now become infested. While we don't see any bugs, they believe that they're seeing them everywhere, especially on their skin. Supposedly, they can burrow through the skin back into the bloodstream; this forces Peter and Agnes to incessantly swat, scratch, and pick at themselves. Eventually, their bodies are covered with open sores.
As the film progresses, Agnes' room transforms into a bizarre kind of shelter; bug zappers and flypaper hang from the ceiling, while every other surface is coated in aluminum foil (it helps to block the bugs' transmissions). How they went about this doesn't matter. The plot was never interested in focusing on logistics, and rightfully so. We're now fully immersed in the delusional world of two people who were made for each other, a world in which nonsensical ramblings make perfect sense. The last ten minutes of the film have both Judd and Shannon delivering high-intensity speeches that almost come off as poetic in a twisted sort of way; their words point to an explanation only they can understand, and in turn offer a solution that only they see as appropriate. How the audience feels is of no concern, and that's exactly the way it should be. When both Peter and Agnes look into a microscope holding a drop of Peter's blood, the sense that they're seeing what they want to see allows us to emotionally detach from the characters and let them continue to unravel.
During the end credits, I learned that "Bug" originated as a play written by Tracy Letts (who also penned the screenplay). I then left the theater wondering how this ever could have been performed on a stage, not because of the sets or the story, but because of the sheer intensity; it's difficult to imagine a live audience sitting through something so disturbing. However, if this film adaptation is any indication, then the play must have something truly unique, a fascinating work that delves into insanity with amazing precision and style. But until I actually see it, then my praise can apply only to the film. But what a film it is.
Movie Review: A pleasant surprise on every level.
Summary: 5 Stars
Bug (William Friedkin, 2006)
William Friedkin has, rather quietly since the early eighties, crafted himself a career as one of American film's finest auteurs. Yeah, there have been some horrible, horrible missteps along the way (anyone remember Jade?), but a lot of movies that were castigated in the media seemed to me to be a whole lot better than people were making them out to be (anyone remember Rules of Engagement or the remake of 12 Angry Men?) Whatever the reason, a guy who pretty much ruled the roost in the seventies has sunk into such obscurity that his latest film, Bug, played on only 1,661 screens at the peak of its theatrical exposure. (Contrast this to the 4,362 screens on which Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End played the same weekend.) It is, at least, some consolation that long after Gore Verbinski's career is a footnote at best in film almanacs, William Friedkin's greatest films will still be available on holodisc or whatever they watch movies on that far in the future. Bug, in my opinion, will be one of them, on a par with The Exoricst and The French Connection.
It shares a lot with those two movies, actually, under its surface. On top, they couldn't be more different; Bug is a somewhat ribald, if creepy, tale about Agnes (Ashley Judd), a waitress whose friend sets her up with Peter (Michael Shannon, who cut his indie teeth in The Woodman and Deadbirds, among others), a drifter who seems like a very welcome change from Agnes' abusive ex-husband Goss (Harry Connick, Jr.), who's just gotten out of prison and is sure to be sniffing around soon. Agnes and Peter, both lost souls in the desolate armpit of an uncaring world, find themselves drawn to one another, but things get complicated with the arrival of minuscule, carnivorous, and very hungry bugs.
I spent the first half of this movie wondering what all the fuss was about. Then the three-quarters of what was left. I mean, I enjoyed it well enough; Harry Connick Jr. showed us in Copycat that he makes a mean, twisted bad guy, and he does it here just as well, while Shannon and Judd are their usual excellent selves. Friedkin's direction is spot-on, and I get the feeling that the pace, which often feels as if it's far too slow, is absolutely deliberate. For whatever the trailers may be telling you, Bug is not a horror movie. Bug is about tension, paranoia, drama. It will take you a while to realize what Friedkin and scriptwriter Tracy Letts (adapted from his own play) are doing with this; the movie explodes, the evil machinations of the people behind the scenes blindside you, and you really have no recourse but to say "holy crap." Friedkin and Letts have pulled a fast one on us, and the sucker-punch at the end is just fantastic.
None of this should be new to Friedkin fans. The Exorcist is two hours of buildup with a rather stock mystery plot before we get to see any classic cinema. The French Connection is notorious for the slowness of its first half. What do you think would attract a director like Friedkin to a remake of 12 Angry Men? This is a guy who likes to spend a whole lot of time setting things up in precise ways so that he can come barrelling out of nowhere with a freight train when you're least expecting it. And Bug is Friedkin's strongest showing in this arena in over three decades; it may, in fact, even be better structured than The Exorcist. The only thing that's missing is the late and very much lamented Jason Miller. **** ½
Movie Review: DO NOT LISTEN TO THE BAD REVIEWS! This movie is INCREDIBLE!
Summary: 5 Stars
*** NO spoilers***
Do not miss this great movie if you are a fan of David Lynch and David Cronenburg movies! It is very Kafkaesque. The people who gave this movie a bad review have no idea how good this movie is. Why do I say that? Because they just don't get it. They are simple minded generic viewers who want a movie to be predictable and think for them. Ok, so if you are like me, then you will definitely want to give this movie a chance. I almost didn't buy this because of the bad reviews here. What a mistake that would have been. I would have missed out on this INCREDIBLE masterpiece of a movie. For once, the REAL critics got this one right. It recieved a 70% rating from all the top critics as shown at the compilation review site: rotten tomatoes dot com, with both Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper giving it "thumbs up" and high praise. 70% on that site is actually considered really good.
Only to give you the background of my credentials, I say:
I am a huge movie fan who was buying Laserdiscs back in the day when everyone else was watching VHS tapes. I had a DVD player the first month they were released when they cost $1200 and movies on regular DVD were $30 a piece. My current home theater is incredible with a Pioneer Elite Kuro 60" Plasma and audiophile HDMI 1.3 / 7.1 surround setup. Watching movies at my place is almost better than going to an actual theater. My movie collection is the largest of anyone I have ever met and all my friends trust my recommendations for their movie types and tastes.
Ok, so take my word for it. This movie is INCREDIBLE. If you like David Lynch and David Cronenburg movies, then this is one you will enjoy. If you think Brad Pitt did an amazing acting job in Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys", then this movie is for you. If you liked movies like "Naked Lunch", "Spun", "Mulholland Drive", "Spider", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "Sling Blade", "The Salton Sea", "Papillon", and "Conspiracy Theory", then this movie is for you!
Michael Shannon does the best acting of his career in this movie equaling Brad Pitt's performance in "12 Monkeys". Ashley Judd's best acting of her career is shown here. Harry Connick Jr. is so good here that you almost forget he's a great musician because you want to hate him. ALL incredible acting performances. The other people's reviews here on Amazon that said the acting was bad, HAVE NO CLUE what great acting is, so do not believe them! This is some of the finest acting work I have ever seen for this type of movie. It really takes talented actors to do these characters and everyone here is in top notch form.
Great set design, cinematography, and directing!
Be warned, this movie is DARK and haunting. It's not a Horror movie in the sense of monsters and ghosts. It's a horror movie in the way that it could actually happen in real life. It's dirty and gritty. Very Kafka (google it if you don't know). The only small amount of humor found here is in some of the sarcastic comebacks in a little of the dialog. The rest is very dark with some shocking moments. It does contain sex, drugs, and violence, but it is presented in an artful form that enhances the storyline.
Highly Recommended for fans of something dark and different!
Thank you so much William Friedkin, Ashley, Harry, and Michael!
It's a brilliant masterpiece in it's genre! A+
Movie Review: Bug is Manipulation of the Mind
Summary: 5 Stars
I just want to start off by saying that I loved this film. A lot of people have given it bad reviews, which is respectable, but many of the reviews were about people being "mislead" by the ads and trailers for the movie. One reviewer said that the trailer showed actual bugs - well, they DID show bugs in the movie. There would be brief clips of bugs squirming around; those brief clips helped show you what Agnes and Peter were seeing, especially under the microscope. But, they weren't real. I watched this movie KNOWING that it was going to be a psychological thriller, NOT a horror movie. So I honestly don't know why people get upset about thinking that it was going to be a "sci-fi" or about "monsters". All you have to do is read the back of the box, or better yet read some reviews.
But, regardless of the bad reviews, I really enjoyed this movie. I like movies that have to do with mental illnesses and people going insane. What really got me was Judd's character just eating up everything that Peter told her. She was such a vulnerable character to begin with, so in misery and even a bit paranoid herself. Needless to say, she was already a bit mental before Peter arrived. He just helped her step out of the circle and into the expanding madness. A lot of people complain about movies that have to do with mental illnesses. Not me. I love both books and movies like that.
I do want to mention that a lot of people are confused about the doctor smoking. I didn't think anything of it at the time because what I was thinking was "Okay, he's a doctor and he's trying to sit down and calm her down so that he can talk to her and they can feel comfortable". In otherwords, he's trying to tell her "Look, I'm just like you, let's try and see eye to eye". So, it makes sense to me, not so much to others obviously.
The only thing I didn't like was that it was too short. I feel like if they had drawn it out more it would have been better, much more impacting. It didn't really creep me out. I didn't expect it to. I didn't even consider it a horror. It's the concept and everything behind it that stays with you. This guy thinks he has bugs and he's manipulated this woman to think she has them too. That's the idea, not that "this isn't even about bugs" or "this isn't horror" or "where are the monsters and action". It's a psychological thriller. You've got to think deeper than just what's given to you in the film. The idea is to leave you with thinking that, if you're not careful, anyone can manipulate you, just like Jim Jones and just like Peter did with Agnes. Especially vulnerable people. That is what I got from the film. That people can be twisted into something that isn't real and how, as humans, we can believe almost anything, no matter how bizzare.
Great movie overall. I won't recommend other movies like reviewers on here do. Instead I'll just say give this one a try. If you don't like it, that's cool. But personally, I loved it.
Movie Review: Smoldering with intensity
Summary: 5 Stars
In hindsight, the viewer can tell that "Bug" is about much more than invading insects, rampant mental illness and broken lives, or government propaganda, though all three themes are crucial: it is a stern reminder of the power suggestion has over human vulnerability.
Ashley Judd plays Agnes, a woman with an impoverished, lonely life resembling a train wreck. From the beginning of the film it's obvious that her loneliness is so intense that even a disaster would be welcome--any disaster save the one she already has to deal with, her vicious ex boyfriend Jerry played by Harry Connick Jr. He does a very good job playing Southern scum, so much so that there are times you want to take his character by the throat. Still, though, in the diseased house of cards that this movie comprises he may be one of the only people in Agnes' life who could have prevented the horrific, unforgettable ending.
Her gorgeous former lesbian lover R.C., played by Lynn Collins, departs way too quickly to make a difference.
But to her credit, she is one who introduces Agnes to Peter, a really, really odd hitchhiker--maybe--who somehow ends up in her social circle.
Michael Shannon here gives the best performance as an extremely paranoid schizophrenic that I have ever seen. At first calm, somewhat rational, mixing his self-tormenting delusions with the truth, there's not one scene with him in it that does not reek of potential danger. His peculiar fondness for insect theory (which ends up extending to his supposed experiences in the Gulf War, which ends up extending to government experiments on veternans, which ends up extending to Agnes' smoke detector, the motel room itself, and then ultimately Agnes' lost child) actually seem very believable when you watch the actor recite his lines.
What takes place in the last 30 minutes of this movie is an unrelenting, Dionysian rush of psychological horror so intense that it is actually hard to watch--Peter does some dental work on himself in order to block the invasion of the "bugs" and it is one of the most brutal scenes I have ever witnessed on film (probably because it takes place so abruptly.)
William Friedkin shows once again that he is a hungry talent to be reckoned with; his films always remind us that we can never quite know what goes on, not with absolute certitude, and that some of the most
momentous events leave us not with truth but with more questions. This is a must see for anyone with a taste for great film.