Plain Dirty (2003)

Maybe it's because I came into this film with no idea what to expect, because I saw it "clean", without anybody's opinions to sway me one way or another, but my overall reaction was of very, very pleasant surprise. Delight, even. Well, it is always a delight to discover hidden treasure and this is no exception.With this subject matter it could well have gone otherwise. But director Zev Berman was clearly in charge, deftly cutting a path through the swamp and deep into the psyches of his edgy, creepy and nonetheless poignant cast of characters. Yes, they are well-known, these backwoods types, but the acting and especially the fine, teasing character of Flowers as he unveiled the scheming intelligence and grand purpose behind his initial apparent "slowness", kept them from being clichéd.Indeed, Arie Verveen's performance alone was worth the price of admission. But all of the actors' emotional commitment to their roles was palpable. The scene in which Edgar erupts in rage at his pathetic life and takes it out on Inez was particularly hard to watch, but because of that extremely effective. Less intense, but equally compelling were the tension and contrast between Inez' life with Edgar and her dream life in town.The setting was atmospheric in that wonderfully sordid and creepy Southern Gothic kind of way. At the same time the cinematography brought a dark, elegant clarity to the scenery, and the intelligent score enhanced the emotional content without intruding on the experience.Overall, as I said at the outset, this film dances a fine line that could have ended in the land of stereotype and unintentionally laughable characterizations. But the line held, and the fact that it was so fine made the experience all the more clever, edgy and provocative. There is a smart, discerning eye and a sure hand at work here, and I for one look forward to Zev Berman's next opus.

OK, I have strange tastes. That aside, this is an amazing film with an unfortunate title that doesn't give a hint of the quality of the material. Really, those who have a broad background in theatre and cinema will appreciate the beauty and genius of the writing and directing.There are so many strong dramatic elements at play. It draws on the techniques of Shakespeare, Tennesee Williams, Eugene O'Neill. It is also a striking contemporary example of a full blown Greek Tragedy, highlighting the wide spectrum and subtleties of human nature. It deftly plays off opposites showing the dark and light sides of the characters and over the course of the film it clearly reveals the dawning of their understanding and finally the shining light of realization is played out in tragic and symbolic semi-blindness.In my opinion this film is certainly a masterpiece if not a Masterpiece.

My heavens, why such a low star score!! This was a very well done movie in all aspects of theater, given the storyline plot is one commonly hackneyed. This movie isn't in the Cat On A Hot Tin Roof notch, but it sure did play a close second in the intensity department! This wasn't of the style of Billy Bob Thornton in Chrystal or Redford in Gatsby, but you got the hillbilly gal semi-tushing her way into the wishful richer world and get out of her backwoods living. The direction, casting, styles and acting were all topnotch and keeps you anticipating more unto the very end. I do get weary of movies using cornfields as inexpensive scenes in these types (and others) of movies (and it was a little whacked to see a Kansas type cornfield not far from a swamp), but it fit well in this movie for the short use they made of it with Officer Avon and Flowers characters ... it was ideal for that particular important scene and it set a motif for next scenes very well. Photography was done very well with good angles, and for once! a decent background music score. I do get weary of dueling banjos even though I really like it, but it wouldn't be suitable to have an association of Deliverance here. It was just all very well put together and the movie just flows.Too many movies have come across with backwood hicks being stupid or racists and other such stereotyping. This movie put more meat into the character developments with serious and calculated depth. Even tho the Inez character obviously had a hard streak about her, her manipulations were upfront and honest, with rational reasoning to stomp her steps through the movie. You can't help but like, admire and pity her and yet be accompanied by dismay (and minor frustration, but not annoyingly so) of her intellectual limitations to step out of her bad situation with a better solution. However, that doesn't happen in life and this movie albeit intense, was a refreshing straying from stereotyping of a battered and abused woman. I liken this movie to the level of the movie Tim, with Mel Gibson, whereby the characters are portrayed with specific complex and simplistic limitations/boundaries giving the audience the decision of forming their own separate opinion(s) of each characterization instead of the director "telling" you this-or-that is what you should be thinking.Would I watch this movie again? I probably wouldn't rent it again, but would watch it again, but would need to be mentally geared for another viewing. This was a rather deep movie to take the first time around, and is probably why others gave it a lower score. I would recommend watching it, but would say if you're more into less mental type movies, this would not be your cup of tea.

I don't usually like romance movies. They drive me up a wall. Same with romance books. But perhaps because this was romantic in a weird way, I did really like it.Swain plays a down-and-out white trash girl in Virginia, married to a creep named Edgar who robs stores to keep themselves afloat. They don't give you a background as to why she ever married this creep, but the bloom has worn off the rose and she just wants to get away from him now.She's in love with a very pale young man who is a lawyer in their small Southern town. He's a big fish in a small pond and more to offer her then she's ever seen in her whole white trash life.Edgar also has a best friend, a guy named "Flowers", for what reason I can't imagine, who hangs around Edgar and his wife all the time. Flowers is infatuated with Inez, Edgar's wife, but she finds him repulsive. He really is, at first--you have to look hard through all the dirt and bad clothing and beard to recognize pretty nice-looking Ari Verveen.Edgar knows Inez is in love with someone else and after a fight, decides to keep her prisoner in her own house by chaining her to her bed at night and to the sofa daily, with Flowers standing guard while Edgar goes and does whatever it is he does.Inez manages to convince Flowers to help her to get away from Edgar by murdering him for her. He doesn't really need a lot of convincing, since he wants her for himself.These people are completely amoral and trashy, but there is still a beautiful kind of poetic romance to Flower's love for Inez. I loved the movie. Even if you hate romances, you may find it great too.