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Written and Directed by Starring Presented by Rated R 108
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FUNNY
GAMES (2008) Review
Michael Haneke’s original FUNNY GAMES was released a decade ago to worldwide acclaim, a psychologically draining film that details a pair of murderous young men who torment a family inside a home. Made in Austria, the film failed to reach American audiences the way Haneke intended, despite its cult status. So, he was offered a chance to remake the film to American audiences with a top cast, and Haneke chose to remake it shot for shot with the original. It is not Haneke but the performances by the cast that makes this remake one of the best ever. FUNNY GAMES opens with an upper class family; Anne (Naomi Watts), George (Tim Roth), and 11 year old Georgie Jr. (Devon Gearhart) who go to what looks like the Hamptons for a summer outing. Once they arrive at their summer home, they are greeted by two very young men, Paul (Michael Pitt) and Peter (Brady Corbet). They seem polite and are well dressed in white polo shirts and gloves, but once Peter asks Anne repeatedly for eggs, things take a turn for the worst. After Paul murders the family dog, the two take the family hostage, where they undergo “games” to psychologically torment the frightened family over a 12 hour period. If you’ve seen the original, you know what to expect here, as Haneke goes with a “don’t fix it” approach. Despite the fact that very little violence is seen on screen, it is the effects of that violence that makes FUNNY GAMES such a disturbing film. This film, as with the original, is a test that Haneke has conducted to show just how much is too much, and he constantly breaks the fourth wall by having Paul in moments direct himself to the camera in asking the audience to participate. Now, being that the film is being remade for American audiences, does that mean it will have the feel good ending? That’s the question Haneke presents, and he succeeds very well here. Haneke wouldn’t have succeeded as well if it wasn’t for the cast assembled for this remake. Naomi Watts is my current favorite actress and with FUNNY GAMES, she delivers a truly gut wrenching performance. She has proven time and time again that she is willing to take risks and she takes a huge one here. Being that she is an A-list actress, to see a face as familiar as hers subjected to this torment adds to the drama lacking in the original. Tim Roth is also good as George in a different role, playing the meek husband who is not as brave as one thinks. With a career where he has portrayed many bad guys, Roth shows his versatility with an emotionally rich performance. Michael Pitt is a standout, giving the best performance of his young career as Paul. He is likeable with his boyish charm, but equally menacing in using that same charm. As he tells George after breaking his leg, “You brought it upon yourself. You didn’t have to slap me.” By repeating this over and over, the thought is you get into your mind that you may actually start to agree with Paul. Brady Corbet is also great as Peter, whom Peter constantly calls “Tubby,” and the interaction between the two is something that we’ve seen countless times before; in movies where the likable killer makes a witty line which makes him a little sympathetic in the eyes of the viewer (think Freddy Krueger). In the screening, a young critic started to laugh at the two sadists as their games became more elaborate. To put it simply, that’s what Haneke wants, and in today’s society where we seem to have an infatuation with mass murderers, this is where the disturbing impact of FUNNY GAMES truly lies. It is remarkable that Haneke managed to construct sets identical to the original, and shooting on Eastern Long Island (not too far from me) really shows the gorgeous landscapes of the island, but also shows a universal nature of the location as even the outdoor scenes look like the original. Cinematographer Darius Khondji does a great job in mimicking the look of the original, especially since he didn’t work on it. Haneke likes long shots and takes, and there is one in the center of the film that is powerful. After a murder, a bound Anne tries desperately to get herself free as she searches around for minutes, falling down and getting back up before she finds a knife to cut herself loose. Just when you think it’s going to cut, it doesn’t, as Anne returns to help the other surviving family member in consoling them. I am very curious to see the general reaction to this film once released, as it’s going to evoke a lot of controversy and discussion. It is a film that after viewing you’ll want to take a long, hot shower. It is a very disturbing and terrifying film that will scare audiences once they see the true impact it carries, and also realize that the film offers, like life sometimes, little chance of hope. In all, FUNNY GAMES is just as effective the second time around, enhanced perfectly by a few staggering performances, particularly Watts and Pitt, and definitely worth a look. It’s probably not worth for repeated viewings due to its content, but it’s a flawless exercise on how to properly display psychological torture on screen. FUNNY GAMES (2008): 10 Out Of 10 Maggots CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR MICHAEL HANEKE! CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH STARS MICHAEL PITT & BRADY CORBET!
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