Julien Donkey-Boy

Rating:
Summary: Great film that stumbles a little.
Review: I'm only docking this film one star, even though i should probably dock it two. Yes, it's visually stunning, and the acting is amazing--- particularly Ewen Bremner and Werner Herzog. But Korine's direction isn't as tight as it could be. He spends a little too much time lingering on scenes that don't really service the narrative. The "freestlye rap" scene and the scene at the church near the end of the film are prime examples of this. Of course, it could be that Harmony and I had different opinions of what was interesting. When the film is "on," however, it stomps all over pretty much anything I've seen in the past few years--- incuding "Gummo" and "Kids"--- for pure, emotional realism in film. It's probably a masterpiece, and it's *completely* worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding and Surreal
Review: if anyone could pull this kind of film off it is Harmony Korine. he took you into the life of a schizophrenic named Julien and made you feel you were walking right next to him. although the film is quite disturbing, it is also incredibly beautiful and is meant for the cinamaticly adventurous only. this film is misunderstood by critics ( like Gummo ) and needs a great deal more of recognition. this is one of my all time favorite films. enjoy and buy it!

Rating:
Summary: this side of gummoland
Review: in gummo a group of dirty men wrestle a chair to the ground, in julien donkey boy a young man in tights wrestles a plastic trash can outside in the light of day. a man with no arms plays cards and the drums, a black albino raps with ease, julien himself has detachable gold front teeth, his father drinks robotussin while listening to country music with a gas mask on, his sister (chloe sevigny) is pregnant, i think from julien? the american way is always the most f@$%&! way!! you must see this film, especially if you've seen gummo, although a bit more linear, still a must view....

Rating:
Summary: strange
Review: it was ok....but it is worth watching to see the sick disturbing
ending..........u won't be able to forget that.....

Rating:
Summary: works as a whole
Review: julian donkey boy is definitley worth watching eventhough it contains many lame scenes that dont really work.the film is highly stylish,the heavy post production work and the use of handheld digital cameras makes it look almost like a painting.there are also some very cool editing techniques and use of music.the problem i have with this film is that its only worth is its visual quality.this movie would be unwatchable if it looked conventional.scenes like julian yelling at the mailman or rambling on the sidewalk dont mean anything this movie is basically an exercise in style,although there is some sort of thin story line kinda holding this thing together.
there are many film makers who make films without a traditional story line,e.g.antonioni whose films like red desert and the passenger dont conform to conventional story telling but they resonate of something very poignant,julian donkey boy does not.it is a film based of pure aesthetics which makes it quite superficial.all in all i would recomend watching this film it is still a nice ride...

Rating:
Summary: boo
Review: one of the best movies to come out in 2000 or any year. bold kinetic, beautifully shot, this is pure emotional, devestating force. korine's style develops from gummo- he is really creating poetry on film. great performance by werner herzog as well. if you like the dogma films 'celebration' and 'idiots' youll like this too.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning Achievement
Review: The level of reality is incredible. Herzog is unforgettable. Avoids every cliche, hits hard, takes you into another world more real than the one you will encounter when you walk out of the movie house. I am hoping for some sort of release of HK's fight project footage but I'm grateful for this film. He doesn't get mainstream respect but as the saying goes "a real artist is either despised or despicable" and he is not despicable.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful film
Review: This is definitely a film worth seeing, despite what the naysayers have spewed forth. It flows from the same river of feeling that Gummo comes from, but is a much sweeter, fuller, more mature work. One could even say that it is a heart-warming experience. Shot on digital video following the Dogma 95 tenets, it has a great performance by Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting) as the title character. Werner Herzog is a riot as the abusive but well-meaning father, and Chloe Sevigny plays her under-stated, supporting role subtly and deftly. Its been over a year since I've seen the film (and I'm in a small minority, to be sure)... it's arrival on DVD is long overdue. If you aren't a fan of Korine and aren't sure you'd plunk down that much scratch for a film based on some stranger's advice, then please implore your local video store to purchase a copy.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding and Surreal
Review: This is one of my all time favorite films. It is artwork. No, not the standard a, b, c, plot story telling most people in the states expect. I didn't find the plot fragmented. In the vein of foreign films , I did find it abstract in the sense that the viewer gets to draw their own conclusions and interpret action. The character Julien didn't seem any more insane than any other member of the family... I felt more a story of isolation and acceptance mixed in to the very real occurence of bad genetics. Was it clear the Mother died? Or was she institutionalized or did she abandon the family? If dark is your ticket then this is the film for you... I also found it very sexy. The clear ogling of Julliene of his pregnant sisters breasts, the interplay between them on the phone with her pretending to be his Mother with Julliene fondling himself absent mindedly in a childlike way... the father played by Werner *the performance!!!* demanding the second son wear his Mothers clothes and dance with him romantically.. and upon the sons refusal the offering of money for the dance... and the blind preteen getting her feet washed by Julliene, the giggling and tickling... the maturity of the child juxtapose against the immaturity of J and his sister. Was the brother even a real wrestler? or did he only wear the uniform and train? Very sexy film plus thought provoking. Even with the paculiarities these people fit into society.. they didn't seem to strike anyone as overly odd... from the black church to the blind social club. What commentary does that make? Step beyond the literal when watching this film and salute Harmony as a genius. Love Love Love this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: This is one of my all time favorite films. It is artwork. No, not the standard a, b, c, plot story telling most people in the states expect. I didn't find the plot fragmented. In the vein of foreign films , I did find it abstract in the sense that the viewer gets to draw their own conclusions and interpret action. The character Julien didn't seem any more insane than any other member of the family... I felt more a story of isolation and acceptance mixed in to the very real occurence of bad genetics. Was it clear the Mother died? Or was she institutionalized or did she abandon the family? If dark is your ticket then this is the film for you... I also found it very sexy. The clear ogling of Julliene of his pregnant sisters breasts, the interplay between them on the phone with her pretending to be his Mother with Julliene fondling himself absent mindedly in a childlike way... the father played by Werner *the performance!!!* demanding the second son wear his Mothers clothes and dance with him romantically.. and upon the sons refusal the offering of money for the dance... and the blind preteen getting her feet washed by Julliene, the giggling and tickling... the maturity of the child juxtapose against the immaturity of J and his sister. Was the brother even a real wrestler? or did he only wear the uniform and train? Very sexy film plus thought provoking. Even with the paculiarities these people fit into society.. they didn't seem to strike anyone as overly odd... from the black church to the blind social club. What commentary does that make? Step beyond the literal when watching this film and salute Harmony as a genius. Love Love Love this movie.