![]() Paul Dano is immeasurably flawless. Daniel Radcliffe is undeniably incredible. The DANIELS are creative geniuses. Swiss Army Man is bizarre, delightful, impactful, and may just revolutionize the way modern Hollywood and film is done. (Please note this post may contain some spoilers for Swiss Army Man): Everybody who has even the slightest love for film and summer blockbusters has seen the posts, the reviews, the interviews - everybody stating, "in a summer full of reboots and franchise sequels, #SwissArmyMan is bringing the movies back to life." - and I simply cannot agree more. This is one of the most beautiful, heartfelt, and original pieces of cinematography I have seen in a very long time. Now, please hear me on this, I am a movie buff. On average I see a minimum of three movies a week (so at a minimum, 156 movies annually from the comfort of my home) on various streaming and rental services and somewhere between 17-25 movies in theaters per year. And I am going to be completely honest, it has been a long time since I've seen a movie so full of passion, brilliance, weirdness, and brutal honesty about life in the 21st century than Swiss Army Man. Probably the last movie this original and utterly out there I have seen was 2008's The Brother's Bloom, which means it was well overdue for Hollywood to be shaken a bit. And I honestly will be quite upset if this doesn't get some form of an Oscar. Now, also hear this - this is NOT a movie for everyone. Like Deadpool, just because reviews are great and it's starring the lovable Harry Potter alum, please DO NOT take your children to this, and do not go into this movie without some caution since this movie one hundred percent refused to hold back in any way shape and form. The story is as unusual and bizarre as one would imagine a film revolving around a farting corpse and a shipwrecked, suicidal twenty something stranded on an island could be. The movie can be crude and entirely shocking at some points, and isn't for everyone. But for those of you at Sundance who walked out before the opening credits even rolled because the disgusting dead body of Daniel Radcliffe keeps farting, I pity you. Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (aka The DANIELS) are the creative geniuses behind the cinematography masterpiece and Sundance controversial film of 2016, Swiss Army Man (seriously though, this movie is gorgeous, I broke down into tears because of how beautifully shot this film was). The film is sweet; touching on subjects of loneliness, suicide, friendship, rejection, and finding out who you really are. Paul Dano, who plays suicidal and insecure Hank, runs away from his problems and ends up shipwrecked on a small island. Dano is impeccably cast for this role and you can feel the pain, loss, and struggle to find his place in a world that just doesn't seem to want him. His father hates him, the love of his life doesn't know he exists, he doesn't even own a car, and nobody seems to notice he's even missing. Opposite Dano is Radcliffe, a horribly disgusting, farting, pale corpse that has "magical powers" and a bad case of amnesia. Radcliffe is brilliant, playing the naive character Manny who is discovering the world once again upon coming back from the dead. He's uncovering the mysteries of love, life, and death through touching and hilarious conversations with Hank. The two have an undeniable chemistry, it's some of the most real and authentic chemistry I have seen between two starring roles in a long while. The two are inseparable throughout the entire movie (literally - Hank carries Manny on his back through the majority of the movie), and even share a pretty intense kiss in the midst of brilliant action sequence that catches everyone off guard. Trust me, though, it is immensely satisfying - you didn't even realize you wanted it until it happens. Both men deliver Oscar worthy performances, for completely different reasons, but are both so deserving and you just have to experience it to understand why. The movie plays on such an emotional level, which was not something I was expecting from a so-called comedy. But the raw emotion coming from Dano is a powerful portrayal of a lost individual so desperate to run away from his problems he would rather end his life than suffer one more day. And the genuine wonder and child-like curiosity of the world delivered by Radcliffe instill wonder and makes you reflect on the stuff you take for granted every day. The DANIELS have an incredible way with words as the script is both playful and powerful, I was laughing and crying in equal parts and was so satisfied with the way the it was all delivered. The movie consists almost entirely of just these two with very minimal supporting cast, and it gives you a dramatic feeling of authentic friendship and how just one unexpected person can make you feel human again. The movie is completely stunning. The color pallets of vidid reds and yellows on Dano contrast against the monotone whites and dark blues of Radcliffe, set against stunning earth toned scenery is visually stimulating. The lighting choices are well-timed and play toward the emotion that's being conveyed in the scene. Back this up with a beautiful score composed by some of Manchester Orchestra's best, accompanied by hilarious vocals from both Dano and Radcliffe, give a playful and magical feel to the dream-like setting that surrounds the movie. This movie isn't for everyone, but for those brave enough to step out of the box of superhero movies, reboots, and shoot-em-up thrillers, you're in for a helluva treat. Every movie falls in line with the Hero's Journey theory, this stands true even with Swiss Army Man, but the unique and undeniably original way The DANIELS portray it gives breath and life to the mundane that has become the summer blockbuster. Sundance Film Festival favorites are always a bit unique and out there (take Napoleon Dynamite, Precious, and Beasts of the Southern Wild for famous examples), and typically aren't for everyone and this movie is no different. But I think that Hollywood has a lot to learn from this incredible stand out film. Film-makers of Hollywood! Take notice! Break the rules! Less is more! Go crazy and do what no one says you should, because the beauty of film is that there are no boundaries and the world is in desperate need of dreamers. This movie has broken so many norms and boundaries, it's such a delight to see something like this hit the theaters. Even the trailers for movies like American Honey, Loving, and Captain Fantastic (which I highly suggest taking a few minutes to go watch) in the opening previews of Swiss Army Man get me INSANELY excited after watching this film to go back into the theater as often as possible. It's new, it's different, it's exciting. And I have nothing but admiration and respect for this film, the incredible cast, and The DANIELS, who made it all possible. ![]() Review written by Alycia D (MaybeMockingbird). All pictures property of A24 Media. Swiss Army Man opened in the US on July 1st, 2016 and is rated R for sexual content and language. #swissarmyman #danielradcliffe #pauldano #summerblockbuster #moviereview
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