The Fall- Grade A

Starring: Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies), Catinca Untaru
Directed By: Tarsem Singh (The Cell)
Release Date: May 30, 2008
Opening Weekend: $79,611
Rating: R
Run Time: 1Hr 57 Min
Synopsis: Young Romanian girl and paralyzed stuntman meet while both are patients at hospital in Los Angeles circa 1920. Young girl and stuntman form unusual friendship. Stuntman begins telling young girl fantastical story of 5 characters on journey for revenge. Young girl brings story to life with her wild imagination. Fact and fiction begin to blur as stunt man's ulterior motives for telling the story slowly emerge.



So How Was It?: Set in an era where movies were still silent and color film was just a dream, The Fall plays like a declaration of love to a medium of storytelling very dear to director Tarsem's heart. Tarsem is less concerned with the details of a well thought out story than he is with the magic behind telling a story. Nearly every plot hole, unnecessary scene or underdeveloped character can be disputed by the argument that it's all being invented by a depressed, paralyzed drug addict and interpreted by a 6 year old immigrant with a limited understanding of English. Quite frankly, things don't have to make sense for the two creators of the story. What they're looking for is an escape from the grim reality of their lives.

The visuals Tarsem is able to create in this film are so strikingly beautiful that the viewer will have a hard time remembering any of the film's faults by the time the credits start rolling.








Acting Wise: Catinca Untaru is an absolute revelation in her roll as Alexandria. She was only 6 years old at the time of filming, and although Tarsem had to coax many of the scenes out of her, her performance is still remarkably real. She is very much aware of the camera and her role as an actor, but she blurs the lines between honest reaction and performance so well its impossible to tell.

Lee Pace holds his own against his young costar, balancing her light innocence with a darker pessimism. The most impressive thing is that Pace not only has to worry about his own performance but also has to adapt and adjust to Untaru's often unscripted reactions.



Technically: This might just be the single most gorgeous film that has ever been made. Everything about it is stunning; the opening sequence, the score, the jaw dropping landscapes (shot in over 18 countries, including India), the cinematography and most importantly the costumes. Designer Eiko Ishioka is a genius.



Best Scene: Any of Untaru's bedside visits to Pace, most memorably a scene involving confusion over a stolen Eucharist. Untaru's heartwarming interactions with Pace are the highlights of the film.





The Shallow Editorial End: At a staggering 6'3", Pace sure knows how to fill out that sleeveless bandit costume...




To See or Not to See?: Trust me, you'll want to see this film. Even if you end up not caring for the story, the visuals are worth it.









here is the film's most memorable interaction between Pace and Untaru:

WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVENT SEEN THE FILM

For Those Who Have Seen It: How heartbreaking is that ending scene with all the characters dying? I applaud Tarsem for sticking to his guns and refusing to give Roy's imaginary tale a "Hollywood" ending.