Robert Anton Wilson needs help

Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things

It turns out tragedy has struck the life of one of the most inspirational authors of our time.


Monthly contributions of $50.00 or more will be greatly appreciated.
All monies will go directly to Robert and can be sent to his PayPal
address olgaceline@gmail.com. You can also send a check to RAW c/o
Futique Trust, P.O. Box 3561, Santa Cruz, Ca 95063.

Hard Candy

Every now and then a film comes along that truly makes you appreciate the craft of film making. This movie is one of them. I had seen a trailer for Hard Candy earlier this year, and while impressed, I had not expected just how wonderful this movie would end up being. From the trailer I had gathered the elements of this original plot. Guy picks up underage girl on internet, twist... girl is the predator. The plot had me interested enough to pick up the movie, but the delivery was enough to make me adore it.

The movie starts of in an internet chat room where flirtations are exchanged between our two main characters. A meeting is established and the film begins in a coffee shop. From this point on we are put into a constant exchange of interesting dialogue between two very believable, captivating characters.

Hayley, played by Ellen Page, is a very mature, intelligent teenager who ends up going home with her online friend Jeff, a photographer in his 30's, played by Patrick Wilson. From the moment they enter Jeff's home the tension and chemistry between the characters evolves from subtle teases to psychological torment. It is a delight to see a relationship like this built between the characters and the audience. I tend to believe character development is one of the most lacking qualities in modern film. Most of the time I find myself (especially with the horror and suspense genre) not caring about the characters that are presented to me. They are typically one dimensional creatures that have no depth or interesting qualities. These characters are solid, intelligent people with multi-dimensional motives that the actors deliver with the greatest of ease.

Beyond the characters is the cinematography. From the very beginning of the movie you can see the care put into each frame. The colors come across so vivid and vibrant it feels as though you are standing with the actors witnessing every scene. It turns out that, "The digital color grade was affected by a specially built system designed and operated at the Moving Picture Company by Jean Clement Soret (famous for his transformation of digital video into filmic colour in Danny Boyles 28 Days Later.)" to quote the films website. The light is reflected perfectly on every texture drawing notice to subtle clues and ideas placed like easter eggs through the movie. Each item presented through the movie encourages thought and speculations of the next action. Each action that occurs, in turn, makes you question the consequence to come later. In these ways the sets and setting act like a character in and of itself. All together these elements add up to an uneasy tone that follows the film from beginning to end.

Director David Slade has given us a true masterpiece with this film. I find it difficult to find a flaw in this moving piece of art. I cannot recommend it highly enough.