Richard Kelly's The Box is suspenseful and challenging at the same time When I went to see The Box, I have to admit, I was sort of fearing the worst. Not because I don't like director Richard Kelly, but because I actually do. I'm one of those people who refuses to believe that Donnie Darko was an accident or a fluke. I also think Kelly is a very interesting film maker and his way of expressing himself is so different from everybody else's, that sometimes people just can't understand his vision. For example with Southland Tales, which I just didn't get at all. But even with that film, you have to recognize the originality and thought provoking aspect of the movie.
The Box is set in Richmond, Virginia, in 1976. It tells a story of a family (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) who are struggling with financial problems. One night they receive a box that has a red button. The next day they get a visit from a mysterious, disfigured man (Frank Langella). The man presents them with an unusual offer. If they push the button, two things will happen; somebody somewhere in the world, who they don't know will die and second, they will receive a payment of $1,000,000. This sets in motion a set of events that will change their lives forever.
I was immediately intrigued with the idea of the premise. Movies that ask questions and/or offer moral dilemmas to the audience have always appealed to me. But even though I liked the story, the script was a bit messy. It almost felt like Kelly had too many ideas, even if they were good ones. Still his ideas are interesting, extremely bold and challenging, and I truly admire him for that.
I also had a problem with the main cast. Cameron Diaz's southern accent just wasn't believable at all and James Marsden is no astronaut, I can tell you that. I'm sure these two will fill the seats in the movie theater, but I just didn't buy it. There are problems in the acting through out the movie and it's hard to say if it's deliberate or not, but quite often the dialog felt unreal and even fake sometimes. Frank Langella on the other hand, was very creepy and frightening, and more or less ended up carrying the whole movie.
The Box is director Richard Kelly's third feature film and it doesn't have the smart storytelling of Donnie Darko, but it is definitely a huge leap from Southland Tales. Because of it's originality, suspenseful story and interesting mood, even with its flaws, I really enjoyed movie. But it is absolutely certain that The Box is not for everyone. There will be people who will passionately hate it, but also people who will just as strongly love it. Well, you can think what you like, but I say The Box is still a hundred times more interesting than the regular predictable bullshit that is usually pushed from Hollywood. At least Richard Kelly has his own point of view, even if people don't always get him.
Well, perhaps I am a little biased, because of my hunger for new ideas, to let problem such as in The Box slide. But the point of the matter is that I was entertained and remained interested trough the whole movie. I think Richard Kelly has huge potential and even if he still has some soul searching to do to make his storytelling as perfect as it was in Donnie Darko, I'm convinced his debut film won't be his last masterpiece.