HE SAID
This is a film that I had often seen on the shelf during my rounds at the video-store (and I had heard a few positive comments about it on the on-line talk boards as well), but never had a chance to pick it up. So I thought "why not" when it came to my turn to pick a film for this week's review. Many of my past picks had been movies I had either seen and thought would make for an interesting review or films that I had seen a long time ago and remembered enjoying, but didn't remember exactly why.
It was nice going into a review cold, and The Lazarus Project did not disappoint. It is the story of a young man, Ben (Paul Walker), who puts the troubles of his youth behind him (a stint in jail for past felonies), and has a fulfilling, blue collar life, complete with a loving wife and child, and a promising career. But when Ben loses his job after his felony record is discovered, he resorts to one last act of crime to make ends meet, along with his recently released from jail brother (Shawn Hatosy). The job goes horribly wrong, and when a security guard is shot and killed, Ben is sentenced to death by lethal injection.
This is when the story gets interesting, as Ben seems to "rise from the dead" as the new groundskeeper at a hospital for the mentally disturbed. His memory is fuzzy, and he is not sure exactly who he is or how he came to be working at the hospital. The plot unfolds as Ben struggles to put the pieces of his past life back together.
All in all, this was a complete movie…a good story that was worth the watch. Some things really worked for me, like the point-of-view being that of Ben's perspective. He is an unreliable narrator, and it really adds an element of suspense to the story as we never know exactly what to believe. Also, the acting was above average, especially considering the film was comprised of a cast of relatively unknown actors.
So, I want to give praise where praise is due, but, on the other hand, I don't want to give the wrong impression. There were definitely some missteps in this film in my opinion. At times, the plot seemed to drag out, and I felt like the story was stuck in neutral. Also, sometimes I wasn't sure what the film was trying to say. Certain mysterious characters would randomly appear….doing strange things (like carving symbols in a tree), and I wasn't sure exactly what was going on. Had I seen the characters before from Ben's past life...or were they just patients at the hospital? Either way, it could have been made more clear. To be fair, perhaps The Lazarus Project is one of those films that deserves multiple viewings to firmly grasp the subtleties, but honestly - though I liked the film overall - it didn't impress me enough to want to watch it again.
One other thing (with out giving too much away here, I hope) is that I was disappointed with the ending. Granted, it tied the story together and was a successful ending for the film, but The Lazarus Project is the type of film that is just begging for a twist ending…and one I kept waiting for…but it never happened. I simply got what I expected…a "happy ending"… and that was it. Film over. It was disappointing because there really was so much more potential to build upon.
He Said: A good film with an intriguing plot…but it seemed to develop in reverse order. The beginning-to-middle was compelling, but the ending fell flat and left me wanting more. I am on the fence about this one, so I won't say "skip it." This is good movie to pick-up when nothing else piques your interest.
SHE SAID
I find it interesting that a film originally titled The Heaven Project is said to be about Purgatory by the film's composer. (And I'm sure that Ben Garvey, the film's main character, might argue that it's about hell too.)
When we first meet Ben, his life seems like a kind of heaven - perfect wife, beautiful daughter, great job. Then his not-quite-ex-con brother enters the scene with the promise of a get-rich-quick job and an air of Purgatory hangs over. After Ben loses his job when they find out he's an ex-con, he decides to join his brother on the job and his life quickly descends into hell (ending with Ben sentenced to death in Texas for his part in the killings of a heist job gone awry).
The film marks screenwriter John Glenn's (Eagle Eye) directing debut, and he also wrote the screenplay. The film's (new) title, The Lazarus Project, is a nod to Lazarus of Bethany's resurrection in the New Testament. But in this Lazarus Project, the "Jesus" that does the resurrecting is Father Ezra (Bob Gunton), who runs the psychiatric hospital in Oregon where Ben "wakes up" after his lethal injection. He is employed as a groundskeeper and is told he has been given a second chance by God.
Though we're led to believe that Ben's second chance is quite literal, the film also touches on questions of criminal rehabilitation in general. (Can an ex-con be reformed? Is Ben a criminal or merely a victim of circumstance? Is criminality nature or nurture?)
In the meantime, Ben begins to question his new circumstances. Did he die? Is this mental hospital a kind of Purgatory? Can he go back to his old life with his second chance?
The film raises some interesting questions and answers most of them well. It's slow going and confusing at times but it wraps up much of the loose bits by the end (which was succinct but not very satisfactory).
She Said: It's an interesting movie and worth a watch. Not an all-time favorite, but not a dud either. You'll enjoy it more if you're into Biblical and literary allusions, as they abound throughout the film.
THEY SAID
After reading each other's reviews, The Eskimo and Shawn always discuss the reviews (and the film, too, of course). Listen to the The Lazarus Project audio commentary here or in the player below. (And find out which film Shawn picked to review next.)
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