Richard Linklater's Tape has a heck of a lot going for it. Well, it has one big thing going for it: the script is excellent. Unfortunately, there are a few huge misjudgements that kill the project for the most part.
First, all three performers overplay their parts to the extreme. Ethan Hawke is the worst - he hasn't given a bad performance for several years now, but this stops that streak. Robert Sean Leonard and Uma Thurman also overplay. This is the biggest mood killer that the film has to face, and it would have survived it, barely, if it weren't for a few more problems.
Second, the film is too jokey. This is a weighty subject here, and Linklater and his actors actually go for laughs. *SPOILERS* Okay, I know that the reality of the rape is questioned, so that's not exactly what I'm talking about when I accuse Tape of being too jokey. But when three friends get together to unveil dark, hidden secrets, the film should take itself a lot more seriously than it does. *END SPOILERS*
I'm only 23, for Christ's sake, but I have to mutter this under my breath: "damn kids today with their Nin-tendos and their MTV!" Sorry, but 90% of everyone under the age of 30 in this modern society of ours needs their damn ass kicked. If a film aimed at this demographic, whether an independent, a foreign, or a Hollywood film, doesn't have at least one joke per minute, the audience will get restless. This is only serving to make every person in every theater find ever moment of every film absolutely hilarious. This guy was making my damn ears bleed with his annoyingly high-pitched laughter. Imagine this: Leonard speaks the line "I pinned her arms down and then I stuck my d*ck in" "HAR HAR HAR HAR" from that guy. No one else laughed at that line, thank God. But there were a lot of very serious moments completely drowned in laughter. Women were laughing too at some of the more painful date rape material. Jesus Christ, people! I'm not saying that films should be humorless, but, well, maybe I am saying that. Tape, anyhow, should be a lot less humorous. What movies like this are doing is training the less intelligent people, that is, 99% of society, to think every goddamn thing is funny. It's not. Tape should be painful, but instead it tries to be clever.
It's far too bad, too, because the film contains a ton of great ideas. Perhaps in 20 years, after this execrable era is over and done with, someone will remake Tape into a much better film. As it stands, it's okay, but quite unsuccessful.
First, all three performers overplay their parts to the extreme. Ethan Hawke is the worst - he hasn't given a bad performance for several years now, but this stops that streak. Robert Sean Leonard and Uma Thurman also overplay. This is the biggest mood killer that the film has to face, and it would have survived it, barely, if it weren't for a few more problems.
Second, the film is too jokey. This is a weighty subject here, and Linklater and his actors actually go for laughs. *SPOILERS* Okay, I know that the reality of the rape is questioned, so that's not exactly what I'm talking about when I accuse Tape of being too jokey. But when three friends get together to unveil dark, hidden secrets, the film should take itself a lot more seriously than it does. *END SPOILERS*
I'm only 23, for Christ's sake, but I have to mutter this under my breath: "damn kids today with their Nin-tendos and their MTV!" Sorry, but 90% of everyone under the age of 30 in this modern society of ours needs their damn ass kicked. If a film aimed at this demographic, whether an independent, a foreign, or a Hollywood film, doesn't have at least one joke per minute, the audience will get restless. This is only serving to make every person in every theater find ever moment of every film absolutely hilarious. This guy was making my damn ears bleed with his annoyingly high-pitched laughter. Imagine this: Leonard speaks the line "I pinned her arms down and then I stuck my d*ck in" "HAR HAR HAR HAR" from that guy. No one else laughed at that line, thank God. But there were a lot of very serious moments completely drowned in laughter. Women were laughing too at some of the more painful date rape material. Jesus Christ, people! I'm not saying that films should be humorless, but, well, maybe I am saying that. Tape, anyhow, should be a lot less humorous. What movies like this are doing is training the less intelligent people, that is, 99% of society, to think every goddamn thing is funny. It's not. Tape should be painful, but instead it tries to be clever.
It's far too bad, too, because the film contains a ton of great ideas. Perhaps in 20 years, after this execrable era is over and done with, someone will remake Tape into a much better film. As it stands, it's okay, but quite unsuccessful.