Southland Tales

[El Dingo]

I'm getting a little bored with these L.A. 'epics' where you follow a dozen characters as they drive around making small talk until their lives eventually convene in some traumatic event.

I'm talking to you 'Magnolia', 'Short Cuts', 'The End of the World', 'L.A. Story', 'Be Cool' et al ad nauseum.

However, I like Dwayne "The Rock" Johhnson. His self-effacing appearance on Staurday Night Live as a gay bartender had me lauging at a show that had been unfunny for years. He was awesome in 'The Scorpion King' and the only interesting character in 'Be Cool'.

So, being a huge 'Donnie Darko' fan, I decided to give it a shot.

I still don't understand a lot of 'Donnie Darko', and 'Southland Tales' is even more complex. It has something to do with time travel, revelations, dirigibles and paradoxes. Picture 'Magnolia' + 'The Fifth Element' + 'Repo Man'.

It wasn't a bad movie, it was just confusing and LONG (the original cut is 160 minutes, I watched the theatrical version at a slim 145 minutes). Dwayne's performance as a semi-amnesiac movie star kept the action rolling as cameos by Wallace Shawn, Bruce Willis, Jon Lovitz and more rolled by in a mind-numbing parade.

I can't recommend this film, but I can't not recommend it. If you have a couple of hours and like puzzles, this is an entertaining film. If you want something short and shallow - stay away!