Kingby Anonymous

Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings

October 26, 2006: I was happy to come across this film due to Bernal and after viewing this it certainly left me unsettled. This story revolves around a very unsavory topic with very unlikable (albeit well played) characters. The director has chosen to deal with the films events in a very blunt manner and it as result does not make it a very enjoyable viewing. To no surprise, Gael Garcia Bernal, Pell James, Paul Dano and Laura Harring are all convincing in their respective roles, as well. For some reason though, this film reminded me of Gus van Sant's "Elephant": the absurdity of Reality (cinéma réalité). In here we found the main character is discharged from the Navy, Elvis (Gael Garcia Bernal) who travels to Corpus Christi, buys a '69 Cougar and visits a church. He flirts with sixteen-year-old Malerie (Pell James), daughter of the minister, David (William Hurt). The minister learns that Elvis is his son, rejects him and Elvis goes on to secretly pursue a heated sexual relationship with the girl who becomes pregnant. After this, the story inexplicably takes a much darker turn. Surprisingly, the treatment of religious fundamentalism is not heavy handed. But once revealed, Bernal's character is confusing, reprehensible and difficult to explain. Elvis takes responsibility for his actions and is clearly a sensitive, caring person, but an understanding of his horrific behavior is never remotely attempted. His schizophrenic turns are as thoughtless and empty as the rest of this valueless and we are never given an ample history about Elvis' background and perhaps the filmmakers wanted us to fear him for that reason. What’s also confusing is the musical score, to me it somehow sounds displaced through out the film but perhaps I am wrong or I’m just being a little too picky. I think the movie could have gone just a little more at the end, gone a little darker perhaps, and accentuated the final effect that much more. While it works at the same time because of its constraint... my guess is that if it were redone it would dwell on longer and more closely scrutinize Hurt's face, even just freeze for some time there. Anyway, “The King” does make an impression on the viewer and it certainly did with me. This film is a must-see if (and I’m stressing that word IF) you are a Hurt and Bernal fans!