Spider
The only thing worse than losing our mind, is finding it again.
Spider (Ralph Fiennes) has been allowed a second chance at life after a long stay in a mental institution and sent to a halfway house under the stern watch of Mrs. Ilkenson (Lynn Redgrave).
Revisiting his old neighborhood reawakens memories of his where his mother (Miranda Richardson) and his father (Gabriel Byrne) raised him. He soon begins to uncover the real truth shifting seamlessly back and forth between the tragic events that polarized a boy's adolescence to the shell of a man enduring the surreal plausible reality of today.
Member Reviews
Spider is a movie in which virtually nothing happens - aj79
Cronenberg's deep shadows and methodical pacing give Spider that Barton Fink feeling of overwhelming claustrophobia and extreme discomfort. You feel like the movie is trying to build up to some glorious revelation, but that revelation comes midway through the film. The before and after comprise a very beautiful bore, full of spidery symbolism, Cronenbergian freak-outs, and endless scenes of Fiennes muttering and scribbling away. We get the point after about 10 minutes, but the film never strays far from this theme. Spider doesn't exhibit anything approaching character growth -- he's an enigma trapped in a personal Mobius strip of his life, which unfortunately doesn't make for much of a movie. The pacing of Spider is totally not understandable, seeing as it entirely takes place in and around a halfway house for recently-released mental patients -- and, obliquely, within the mind of its central character.Brilliant as in diamond - pib-
I gave this film FIVE stars but only three have shown up.
I read some of the reviews above before I ordered this movie. Imagine my surprise, then, when this "slow moving" and "boring" film engaged me from the very first scene. and I remained riveted all the way.
The film has a kind of throat tightening luminosity that for me completely condtradicts those who claim it to be dark. Not two seconds passed without that little glint of light sparking like a multi faceted jewel. Each ray gave us a new glimpse at Spider's twisting and contorted thinking. It is true, there were no surprises,just constant small revelations with a now you see it now you don't quality. And at the end, which was no real surprise either, we're still left with questions re Spider and re our own memories and recollecteions versus reality. Whatever THAT is.
Ralph Fiennes was magnificent as was Miranda Richardson although from time to time I wondered whether I was seeing Vanessa or Lynn Redgrave. So much for indelible impressions left by all the actors in our lives.slow but interesting - Watcher
This is an intelligent and artistic look at the inner workings of the schizophrenic mind. Fiennes is convincing in the role; his internality is reinforced both visually and aurally. NOTE: His mumbling is impossible to understand, which is where there are English subtitles on an English-language movie. They don't spell out everything he's saying, but they insert "(mumbles)" to at least let the audience know when we're not supposed to be understanding him.
If you're looking for easy answers or a conventional plot, this isn't for you. Fiennes' acting, strong supporting cast, and creative imagery were the best features, but the slow pace and long silences were a bit tough to take. I almost wished Spider's character was a little less internal, a little more communicative.
Member Reviews
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Spider is a movie in which virtually nothing happens - aj79
Cronenberg's deep shadows and methodical pacing give Spider that Barton Fink feeling of overwhelming claustrophobia and extreme discomfort. You feel like the movie is trying to build up to some glorious revelation, but that revelation comes midway through ...Brilliant as in diamond - pib-
I gave this film FIVE stars but only three have shown up.
I read some of the reviews above before I ordered this movie. Imagine my surprise, then, when this "slow moving" and "boring" film engaged me from the very first scene. and I remained riveted ...slow but interesting - Watcher
This is an intelligent and artistic look at the inner workings of the schizophrenic mind. Fiennes is convincing in the role; his internality is reinforced both visually and aurally. NOTE: His mumbling is impossible to understand, which is where there are English ...