The King
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Movie Reviews of The King
Movie Review: Enjoyable on many levels...
Summary: 5 Stars
"The King" is a movie that unwinds effortlessly before your eyes, gliding like a river through the depths of a Corpus Christi summer. An entrancing palette of emerald green lawns and cool blue refinery lights combines with a chiming, dulcimer-laden soundtrack to mesmerizing effect. The film lulls and soothes, until after watching, when you are forced to reflect on the mayhem you have just witnessed.
Then, too, there is something very oddly familiar about this tale of woe, which seems to obliquely refer to several Biblical stories.
William Hurt would seem to be the titular "King". He plays David Sandow, the authoritarian pastor of a prosperous Evangelical church in Corpus Christi, the leader of a large "flock", and a prideful man. He lives a very affluent life with a beautiful suburban home, a lovely wife (Laura Haring, who literally disappears into her role), and two beautiful, obedient teen-age children. Interestingly enough, he seems more like a Medieval king than a Christian one. The symbol that reigns in his home isn't a cross, it's a high-powered hunting bow.
David Sandow is hiding a secretive past, which comes back to haunt him in the form of "Elvis" (Gael Garcia Bernal), a son that was born out of his union ( in the days before he was "saved") with a Mexican prostitute.
Freshly discharged from the Navy, Elvis seems to have no other purpose in life than to claim his rightful inheritance as a part of the pastor's family.
Biblically, the character of Elvis would seem to refer to the "Prodigal Son" as well as to the story of Jacob ("the Supplanter"). But Elvis is an oddly vacant character, sort of a borderline personality who has no moral center. He is a drifter possessed of a kind of animalistic grace, and when David Sandow bars him from his church and his home, retributions occur--again, in sort of a pre-ordained, Biblical fashion. Elvis lays with Malerie ( Sandow's daughter), kills Sandow's son, and having effectively covered his tracks, eventually replaces the "good son" in Sandow's home. But the tragedy continues to play out, and further consequences are in store...
There are just a multitude of things to recommend this movie. The actors are all excellent in their roles--especially Hurt, as Sandow, and Pell James as Sandow's daughter.
Bernal, as Elvis, will definitely remind veteran movie-watchers of young Martin Sheen, in "Badlands" (where Sheen played a character based on murderer Charles Starkweather.)
Other subtexts in "The King" reveal themes that were present in movies like "Lone Star", and "The Border", two other films that were set in Texas. "The King", with its pointed references in the musical score to Tex-Mex and Mexican music, like the aforementioned movies seems to be making comments about the relationship of the two cultures ( another way in which Elvis can be seen as a threatening heir.)
Five stars for a masterfully woven, sneaky-good movie.
Movie Review: The King Is Not Dead
Summary: 5 Stars
Other reviwers have noted that,Down In The Valley, provides a template for this one and is a and superior film. I can't agree, pacing and believablity in the pathology of the two lead types are only distant relatives. I found this a brilliantly disturbing tale...and I hadn't seen trailers or even read the jacket! Without repeating the story, which reviewers seem to feel the need to do, the kernel of the tension resides in the very ambivalence of Bernal's performance. It is never really clear where the depth of his pathology is rooted, and therefore the scope of his ambitions. It's a marvellously nuanced performance. How far will he go towards seducing his dad's daughter by the lake? Will he top the geek Creationist half-brother when confronted in his seedy motel room? And the look of consummate satisfaction as he raids the fridge of his dad's house after a life-time of exclusion! then there's the marvellous moment of the girl's dawning awareness of the implications of her relationship with Elvis, mid-congregation, as the dad spills his heart.James Marsh's direction has graceful timing throughout. The camera work dollying around the garden prior to the bedroom scene of the double murder is a thrilling stroke, and an unexpected tenderness where we presume gratuitous violence will pour forth. I thought the finale down the corridors of Fundamentalist power were right on and the look of bewilderment on Hurt's face, just the moment worth waiting for. I doubt he's be returning to his flock to absolve himself through public confession and accept Elvis for cleaning up. Quite a punchy movie.Movie Review: Understated depravity
Summary: 5 Stars
The hottest new young actor out there, Gael Garcia Bernal, has once again expanded his range. In The King he brings to life a recently discharged servicemanr's plight when he tries to connect with what distant roots he has left. He visits the church where his father, who he has never met, preaches. He is looking for the home he feels he has missed. When he confronts his father, William Hurt, he finds no acceptance only a cautious warning. Hurt, who is now a respected member of the community and family man with a teenage son and daughter, has extreme apprehension about this son he admits to but has every intention of casting out.
What we soon find out is every action has a catastrophically ironic result. If only we knew what was to come we would have never have made that move but that's hindsight.
The King is excellent in every aspect. All principle acting is superb with Bernal and Pell James being standouts. I loved the music which maintained the sober tone that permeated the entire film. Beautiful cinematography and editing helped the compelling nature of the script. This is a perfectly executed, disturbing adult drama. Not for all tastes but packs a quite a wallop. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Disturbing drama
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent and disturbing drama about a young man "Elvis" seeking his biological father. Turns out he is the son of a prostitute and current pastor who has repented for his younger days of sin. The father dismisses the young man out of shame for his sin. The young man decides to get even by seducing the pastor's teenage daughter - his half-sister. The violence escalates and it was hard to determine whether "Elvis" had a master plan of destruction for his father's new family or simply tragic circumstances that spiralled out of control. Well-crafted and extremely strong cast which left more questions than answers at the finale.Movie Review: "A Disturbing Story that probably happens more often than one would think"
Summary: 5 Stars
To some viewers such a movie seems far fetched and phony but as I watched it I wondered just how many Elvis characters there really are across the country?
True the murder scenes were not normal or ordinary occurrences but I am sure that the other aspects of this film have played out in real life more often than one would imagine. To me this was a very thought provoking film and it definately left an impression.