During a three day heat wave just before a huge 4th of July celebration, an action star stricken with amnesia meets up with a porn star who is developing her own reality TV project, and a policeman who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.
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A small wooden box arrives on the doorstep of a married couple, who know that opening it will grant them a million dollars and kill someone they don't know.
Director:
Richard Kelly
Stars:
Cameron Diaz,
James Marsden,
Frank Langella
A drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of his life.
Director:
Jieho Lee
Stars:
Brendan Fraser,
Sarah Michelle Gellar,
Andy Garcia
A recounting of Domino Harvey's life story. The daughter of actor Laurence Harvey turned away from her career as a Ford model to become a bounty hunter.
Director:
Tony Scott
Stars:
Keira Knightley,
Mickey Rourke,
Edgar Ramírez
A woman's life is thrown into chaos after a freak car accident sends her husband and brother-in-law into comas. Thrills arrive after the brother-in-law wakes up, thinking he's his brother.
Directors:
Joel Bergvall,
Simon Sandquist
Stars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar,
Lee Pace,
Michael Landes
Southland Tales is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Boxer Santaros is an action star who's stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with Krysta Now, an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Ronald Taverner, a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy.Written by
TheGuyInThePj's
The Fluid Karma energy system bears a striking resemblance, in principle, to plans drawn up by Nikola Tesla (never fully realised). See more »
Goofs
In the scene when they are stealing the ATM the tires on the SUV change from both spinning, to only the right one spinning, and then back to both spinning. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Private Pilot Abilene:
[narration]
In the aftermath of nuclear attacks in Texas, America found itself on the brink of anarchy.
[overlapping news reports]
Private Pilot Abilene:
World War III had begun.
Private Pilot Abilene:
The accelerated conflict in the Middle East placed significant restrictions on American access to oil. Alternative fuel sources became a lucrative commodity. Americans were transfixed by the terrorist's threat, and were willing to prevent another attack by any means necessary. Military checkpoints were erected at each State line. ...
[...] See more »
Crazy Credits
After the credits, a logo appears of a thumbprint over an American flag with the words: "DON'T TOUCH ME" See more »
Alternate Versions
Originally running for 160 minutes, Southland Tales premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006 to a disastrous reception. Because of this, it was re-edited and shortened in length as part of the distribution deal. Since the shortened version was shown theatrically and released on DVD, the Cannes cut has been shown on Cable TV and DVD releases in Europe. Some of the changes between the theatrical cut and the Cannes cut are as follows:
Opens the same as theatrical cut, with home video in Abilene, except with music ('Water Pistol' by Moby) and runs longer. Video is also shown in its original aspect ratio, instead of cropped for 2.35:1.
Doomsday Scenario Interface is not present in the original cut, it was added to provide background information present in the graphic novels. Instead we have narration from Pilot Abilene explaining the present situation and Treer Corporation.
The meeting between the Baron and Hideo Takehashi takes place much earlier in the film, Pilot explains the Baron dislikes Takehashi.
The character of General Teena MacArthur is more fleshed out in original cut, she mainly communicates with General Simon Theory and the Baron.
Many scenes with dialog between main characters have been extended i.e. scenes with Boxer & Roland, Krysta & Cyndi, Boxer & Starla, Cyndi & Vaughn Smallhouse etc.
Pilot explains that Bart Bookman is an 'angry man' with a willingness to die.
Some events that take place are better explained in original cut e.g. Boxer ringing Fortunio before meeting him, Serpentine explaining her actions at the end.
Features additional effects of the blimp not in theatrical version.
Features music by Moby not present in theatrical version i.e. 'Ceanograph' is heard in scene giving information on the rift, 'Hotel Intro' is heard as characters visit different sections on the blimp.
This is one of those movies that you need to watch a couple of times to really appreciate the story that's being told. There's no doubt that Richard Kelly is blatantly very ambitious with this project and packs - for most viewers - way too much storyline into his epic that can sometimes make it hard to follow. But a couple of repeat viewings really does the movie justice, at least for me.
Despite Kelly's over-ambitiousness and the movie's subsequent messiness, it's refreshing to see such a creative film literally bursting at the seams with ideas. Every shot feels energetic and detailed. The plot line keeps you thinking and is topical and relevant. Some of the dialog in the film doesn't always sound as cool as Kelly would like it too, but a lot of is also fantastic. Pretty much any line spoken by Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar, the comedic highlight of the film) is instant gold. There is a large ensemble cast and the movie boasts a number of great performances.
The soundtrack is brilliant and use of song in the film really works in it's favor. Particularly a climactic sequence near the end of the film played over Moby's "Memory Gospel" will burn in the memory as the most compelling part of the film.
Didn't enjoy it the first time? I recommend giving this movie another go. It makes a lot more sense the second time around and you start to really see the messages Kelly is attempting to bring across to the audience, rather than spending your viewing time figuring out the sprawling storyline. Invest time in this film and it's a near-masterpiece. Not perfect, but damn close.
9/10
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This is one of those movies that you need to watch a couple of times to really appreciate the story that's being told. There's no doubt that Richard Kelly is blatantly very ambitious with this project and packs - for most viewers - way too much storyline into his epic that can sometimes make it hard to follow. But a couple of repeat viewings really does the movie justice, at least for me.
Despite Kelly's over-ambitiousness and the movie's subsequent messiness, it's refreshing to see such a creative film literally bursting at the seams with ideas. Every shot feels energetic and detailed. The plot line keeps you thinking and is topical and relevant. Some of the dialog in the film doesn't always sound as cool as Kelly would like it too, but a lot of is also fantastic. Pretty much any line spoken by Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar, the comedic highlight of the film) is instant gold. There is a large ensemble cast and the movie boasts a number of great performances.
The soundtrack is brilliant and use of song in the film really works in it's favor. Particularly a climactic sequence near the end of the film played over Moby's "Memory Gospel" will burn in the memory as the most compelling part of the film.
Didn't enjoy it the first time? I recommend giving this movie another go. It makes a lot more sense the second time around and you start to really see the messages Kelly is attempting to bring across to the audience, rather than spending your viewing time figuring out the sprawling storyline. Invest time in this film and it's a near-masterpiece. Not perfect, but damn close.
9/10