Justine Waddell in "The Fall"
(Credit: Roadside Attractions)
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Big question: It’s been a long, hard journey to theatrical release for the second film by “The Cell” director Tarsem, which was independently financed (largely by the director himself) and primarily shot in the summer of 2004. Despite the support of executive producers Spike Jonze and David Fincher, no studio wanted to gamble on such an expensive, idiosyncratic project. Was the struggle worth it?
Catch it: Even those impressed by the dramatic visuals of Tarsem’s first film will be blown away by the resplendent images on display here (which offset the regrettably thin story spun by the stuntman). The director spent four years capturing scenes on location in over 26 countries for a film that relies on the wonders of man and nature, rather than CGI, to dazzle viewers.
Skip it: If you’re expecting the R-rating indicates the same level of graphic violence present in “The Cell.” In fact, the rating seems unduly harsh for a film ideally suited to spark the imagination of adults and mature kids alike.
Bottom line: Gorgeous as it is, the film would be little more than a beautifully pointless exercise in style without the intensely believable performances from Pace and Untaru. Their bond (aided by the girl’s off screen belief that her co-star was actually paralyzed, and not simply an actor) has a magic you can’t fake, helping to make “The Fall” the real deal in fantasy filmmaking.
Bonus: Although audiences may be tempted to draw parallels between “The Fall” and any number of fantasy films—including “The Princess Bride,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The Fifth Element,” the work of Terry Gilliam and “The Wizard of Oz”—the storyline was directly inspired by an unexpected source: the 1981 Bulgarian film “Yo Ho Ho.”
