Following
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Viewed at the San Francisco
International Film Festival
Foul, I cry! I've been set-up!
What begins innocently enough becomes a game of chess where one player doesn't realize he's even playing until the game is over...
Bill, a writer, "between jobs" begins shadowing or following people at random- to gather material for his writing. He becomes addicted to this "game" and soon establishes certain ground rules for this game- like not following the same person when he knows where they live, which he breaks as soon as he meets Cobb. Well dressed and quite sharp looking, Cobb intrigues Bill and he continues following him until Cobb confronts him. Cobb is engaging and incredibly intuitive, with an uncanny ability of evaluating people based on their belongings, he is a burglar! Bill is drawn into this dangerous game as Cobb's understudy and when an attractive woman becomes their victim trouble follows closely behind!
Shot in black & white, in a series of non-linear flashbacks, we begin piecing together this game gone awry. Beautifully orchestrated the final "move" is perfectly played at the last moment, not unlike one of Hitchcock's best. It reminded me a bit of the more recent "Shallow Grave" or maybe "Red Rock West" in the way things are not quite what they seem!
Original in look and style, well acted and tasty in its many twists and turns...and it may require repeated viewings to catch all the clues!
Filmography
Christopher Nolan (b. London, England, 1970)
Reviewed by Eric Michel, FilmCities
|