The Box

Richard Kelly – 2009 – USA

I wouldn’t say that The Box is the weakest of Richard Kelly’s three features so far, because it isn’t necessary to rank films at all, and mostly because there’s so much that’s great about it.  I would say that Kelly is at the point where a weaker film by him is still quite a bit more interesting than a strong film by much more respected directors; that to me is the mark of a real auteur.  The problem with it, in my view, may be that it’s elements feel a bit too familiar and even contrived, depriving it of the sense of playful yet ominous surprise that characterized Donnie Darko (2001) and Southland Tales (2007).  All this may in some part be due to the fact that, for the first time, Kelly adapted an existing work; a short story by Richard Matheson, but even so it was his obligation to make it entirely his own.  Unfortunately, the cross-breeding of Kelly and Matheson results in too much of an M. Night Shayamalan vibe than pure Kelly or Matheson.  The final message, furthermore, is basically the same old sci-fi chestnut about otherworldly beings judging whether or not human beings are worthy of existence or progress, or something like that.  James Marsden plays an underpaid but loyal NASA employee whose wife (Cameron Diaz) is visited one day by a strange, disfigured man (Frank Langella), who leaves her with a box containing a big red button.  If the couple pushes it, they will get a million dollars and somebody they don’t know will die.  Oh, the anguish.  Obviously, there wouldn’t be much of a movie if they opt to pass and save an anonymous life, so even the suspense over their decision is a bit of a waste of time.  But all the stuff about astronomy and time-travel – Kelly’s recurring themes, as well as the reaction of 1970s New England, is fascinating and very well-done.  And his moody, portentous style remains as captivating as it was in his previous films.  That makes it worth the watch even if you spend a lot of time wishing it was a little more satisfying.