Movie Review: Ratcatcher

Where do new ideas come from? How does that light bulb start glowing in your head?

Today's unsolicited ranting concern's my new LOBO category - the Squirm Scale! Feeling all self righteous after my first 5 mile race in Central Park (I am already in training for the November, 2001 NYC Marathon - at my age, just getting up and out is a training session)! I decided to go see the only movie of 2000 I hadn't seen and still wanted to see. And so, a new category was born!

Squirm Scale Definition: The story line includes any or all of the following - Bad things are going to happen to, animals, children, old, weak or innocent people. Uncomfortable scenes such as sex by or with children or with any of the aforementioned groups. You just feel all 'squirmy' and very uncomfortable. You know what I mean?

Story: It is in the early 70's and the garbagemen (dusters) are in the middle of a nine week strike. It is a stinky, smelly, overwrought poor section of Glasgow where we meet young James, who lives with his unemployed, drunken father, two sisters and hapless, forlorn mother. Things are so gloomy in this part of town the film could easily have been in black and white and you would not have noticed the difference. Bad things start to happen almost immediately and worse things happen as the movie drones on. Without giving much away this dark, reality based, though somewhat poetic depiction of poverty is hard to watch. Our young James tries to escape mentally, physically and emotionally (as did I). First time full length feature director and writer Lynne Ramsay (she has won 2 awards in Cannes for her short films) pays incredible attention to the smallest detail and parts of this film are glorious. But you would need a strong stomach to 'enjoy' this film.

Acting: Superb. The actors were so perfect it did not seem as if they were acting. The camera (and audience) were like voyeurs.

Pets: Oh my! Bad things happen to a lot of animals including rats, mice and dogs.

Food: Lots of white bread and jelly sandwiches, snack foods and breakfast cereal.

Visual Art: Tacky wallpaper.

Soundtrack: The ubiquitous Rachel Portman's music was haunting. There is also some Tom Jones (What's New Pussycat?) stuff.

Titles: Flashed over the opening sequences -- like an afterthought. Very well done.

Theater Audience: I have more seating in my living room than this theater had. But it was almost filled up with people who were not watching the Giants vs. Eagles game.

Quirky Meter: 5

Squirm Scale: 9

Oscar Worthy: No

Nit Picking: There were actually tic picking scenes. Ugh!

Big Screen or Rental: Have a rental weekend with some of these other difficult but terrific films about children and strife. The Butcher Boy, Ponette, Europa, Europa, My Life as a Dog, Au Revoir Les Enfants, Kolya and The 400 Blows. (Guess what? All of these are foreign films -- what a surprise!)

Length: 90 long minutes.

LOBO HOWLS: 5

PS. Today is Elvis' birthday. He is 66. Long live the King!