The Box (2009)

The Box (2009)

Directed by: Richard Kelly
Screenplay by: Richard Kelly

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 115 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Viewed: Rental DVD - Blockbuster

You are the experiment.

[IMDb]

Comments: Richard Kelly has had a short yet interesting film career. First, he released the critically acclaimed Donnie Darko, a film I regularly cite as one of my all-time favorites. Then it took him five years to release his follow-up, Southland Tales, which was generally disregarded by critics. I liked the film, but it certainly wasn't anything spectacular. After another four years, Kelly finally returned with The Box. The film has a tone similar to Donnie Darko, along with a wonderfully odd plot. While it's certainly not as good as Darko, I really enjoyed the film (although many critics disliked this one as well). I was generally surprised at how much the film was pushed; nothing about The Box is suited toward mainstream audiences (well, other than Cameron Diaz). The film is about so much more than the decision of whether or not to push the button in the box. I also feel that The Box could have been fleshed out a bit more, as there's a wealth of material that could have been explored further. A film like this may not be for everyone, but if you've enjoyed Kelly's work in the past, I think you just might like The Box.

A random side-note: why does Kelly always seem to hire some "iffy" actors? From Drew Barrymore in Donnie Darko, to Seann William Scott in Southland Tales (or pretty much the entire cast, depending on your opinion), to Cameron Diaz in The Box. Don't get me wrong, Diaz does an alright job in The Box, it's just that there are so many other actresses that would have been better, at least in my opinion.