Uwe Boll's latest: shock value or genuinely felt?

[tazber]

Posted: 9/8/10 at 7:50am

I have always admitted a fondness for B-movies. One of the things I love about them is that usually the directors know they are making a crap film but there is a sense of exuberance and joy in their sloppy work. Ed Wood's films are awful, but his excitement to entertain is palpable. Roger Corman, a shrewd businessman, knew what audiences wanted and chose genuine untapped talent and gave them a shot.

The only director whose movies I have ever literally refused to watch is Uwe Boll. It's not just that his movies are bad, but he actually made them poorly on purpose in hopes they would lose money which would result in a huge payoff under specific German tax laws which subsidize losses of failed enterprises.

Now comes a trailer for his latest. And I admit, I'm confounded.

If he means it to be an exploitation film(a reasonable conclusion when discussing Mr. Boll) then it is probably the most tasteless thing I have ever seen (possibly on par with "A Serbian Film"). But I get the sense that maybe, just maybe he actually has something to say here beyond crass commercialism.

I don't know.

You can decide for yourself.


Btw, that's him smoking and leaning up against the wall

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/8/10 at 9:43am

Well, I've never seen a Boll film before, but have read about him (probably referenced here on bww) and will not see this film, but he does seem to be saying something here with the "never forget" tag line.

I know that the miniseries "Holocaust" had a very similar scene back in 1977 on television. The horrors here actually happened. Is it exploitative? Yes. For a good reason? I dont know.

In reading about Boll, it does seem that he is a pretty nasty guy and his films are the ultimate in suckitude...but that doesnt mean he isnt intending to do some good here.

Very interesting...you're a very smart cookie with this stuff, taz.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/8/10 at 10:32am

I don't care what his purpose is with this film. The subject has been so extensively covered, there is no real reason to realistically depict the atrocities other than for exploitation and vanity. Previous documentaries supply us with enough actual footage to deliver the emotional anxiety required to grasp the horror of the events. Other feature films have filled in the gaps for us. This film is nothing but erroneous shock-schlock designed for publicity. I think Uwe Boll's purpose in this film was to top Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ in terms of tasteless vanity and controversy. The difference is, Mel was crazy enough to believe he was doing it for the right reasons. Uwe Boll wants infamy ad nothing more. The best thing that can happen is not to actively "boycott" this film, but to simply passively ignore it and let his entire body of work fall into worthless obscurity.