Rumours

It seems like nobody, exactly nobody, from casual movie goers to horror buffs to critics to cineasts... Nobody enjoyed this movie. Except for me apparently. It is funny and clever and absolutely unpredictable and all over a great ride. Leave your expectations and pretense at the door and just go with it.

Thanks Guy Maddin and Johnsons and producers, lights and sound, editors and post production, the cast, everybody else involved - including you fourth assistant and the temp in catering. You all did great work. I saw it. I loved it.

If you liked The Death of Stalin (2017), The Lobster (2015), and Severance (2006), there is a very good chance you'll like this film. I absolutely loved it. It's a crazy genre-ignoring absurdist romp that expects quite a lot of prior geopolitical knowledge from its viewers. 9/10, loved it, the third act could have been stronger but the finale redeemed it. I understand the hate for this film: it's an outlier film that will appeal to outlier viewers. If you're one, you might love it.

A political satire with Cate Blanchett and Charles Dance? Yes, please. We are in what feels like such a dangerous time and the politicians who are supposed to reflect the people, don't seem to have the humanity or care we all need. The only way I feel better is by looking at what could be the positives or the humour behind how humans work. This movie has that. You get to see the workings of our leaders without the people. The facades and immaturity. My problem with this is the fact it's too smart. I couldn't understand or enjoy most of it and I wish I could without researching the whole thing. I'd only recommend it if you're deep into politics.

LIFF38 2024 #1

My first film at this year's Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF), and there is plenty to discuss.

Rumours is a black comedy and a satire about the Group of Seven (G7), where leaders of the world's wealthiest democracies, such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, gather for the annual meeting. However, as night falls, they all get abandoned and lost in the woods, soon encountering odd findings in the misty and dark woods.

There is a brilliant movie somewhere in Rumours. The premise alone should make a clever and hilarious apocalyptic political satire where all the leaders of the world get reduced to buffoons. One reviewer compared this to Night of the Living Dead meets Dr. Strangelove.

There are parts in Rumours that work well. Whereas most of it does not.

Firstly, the movie looks excellent. The cinematographer helps give the film an otherworldly look/feel, especially in the nighttime sequences in the woods, and that is by adding glowing colours that you don't usually see in the woods at night.

The movie is littered with commentary, both metaphorical and literal speaking. All the world leaders brainstorm a draft statement in response to a global crisis. All different minds from different kinds of countries. Speaking of minds, later in the film, where shit hits the fan, they discover a giant brain sitting in the woods; yep, for real. So, here we have all the brains of world leaders in one place, but when it comes to making the world a better place, the brain power suddenly stops working.

Charles Dances plays the American president in the film, even though he never changes his British accent. I am guessing this is an intentional choice for comedy. This president is lazy and elderly and not fit to be running the country (sound familiar). He falls asleep most of the time, so the others have written the statement for him, and most of his words are taken from his sleep talking. He even uses an American flag napkin.

Some of the humour worked, and I got a chuckle from it. All the actors do a fine job in their roles. Sadly, it is the script that lets them down.

As I said earlier, there is a good movie somewhere here, but the writing needed to be sharper and more work. I did not find most of the humour funny, and after a while, I felt disconnected. Every premise has the potential to be a solid movie. It is the execution that is key.

I eavesdropped on a couple of people’s conversations after it was over, where one guy mentioned how there would probably be a film analysis of it on YouTube shortly, and probably right. I can see Ryan Hollinger making a video of it.

Despite not loving it, I still admire how unusual it is.

This wants itself to be intelligent and deep but in reality it is just shallow, naïve and idealistic BS.
Show this kind of thing in alternative theatres to grass-fed people in sandals and self knitted pullovers. That way, they stay out of the way of the people that really want to solve the problems of this world with realistic means.
Sorry, but that is my opinion about this. Cate, you are better than this.

Like politicians: ineffective, obscure, and unfunny.

A movie about leaders fiddling with themselves while Rome burns...

Caught somewhere between a political satire, a soap opera, a B-movie horror, and complete nonsensical schlock. The actors in this do some of their worst work. The green screen is so obvious (or that's part of the gig? Beats me) and the color palette is enough to get nauseous. Didn't understand the dialogue at times because of poor sound design and too many accents being mixed together. I laughed a few times but that's it. Got really boring and nonsensical beyond redemption.

It was too arty for me, making very little sense whatsoever.
Yes, I do get & understand the geopolitical references but it was just so far out there that even what little humour it had just didn't land.
The only positive I can take from this is that I will now take a closer look at the films starring Roy Dupuis, he was the standout among the many stars.

SUCKS DO NOT WATCH-SUCKS VERY MUCH

This movie sucked.

It may have been trying to send a message, but much as Shay said to Mental in DUMB AND DUMBER when he suggested they trash Harry and Lloyd’s apartment to send them a message, “I don’t think they’re gonna get that message Joe.”

It may have been trying to recreate a DR STRANGELOVE-type of vibe, but it failed, much as the G7 has failed, in the eyes of some, to address the climate emergency, or to commit to financing the global transition, or to deliver plans on disarmament in 2023 AND 2024.

It is either irony or intentionally subversive genius that RUMOURS, a movie that satirizes the impotence of the so-called Great 7, is itself impotent in being interesting in any way, and much like the Italian Minister, I found myself wondering what I was doing here and why none of the words the others were speaking made any sense.

Though I imagined myself to be the heroic figure of Maxime, bravely wading through each challenge the film presented to me sticking through the final scene, in reality I was probably closer to the US President, struggling to stay awake and/or assign any value to the proceedings taking place around me.

This write-up has required far more creative energy and time than this movie deserves.