Who's
In It: Barbara Hershey, Patrick Swayze, Hilary Swank, Rachael Leigh Cook,
Henry Thomas, Ben Foster, Colin Hanks, Shawn Hatosy, Clark Gregg, Stark Sands Who
Directed It: Greg Marcks
When Can I Buy It: NOW (Region 2)
11:14
(Eleven Fourteen) - Reviewed by: Paul Heath
Scene
Selection
Trailer
11:14
is one of those movies that tells a series of stories that all intermingle together.
Like PULP FICTION, GO, AMORES PERROS and even Kubrick's THE KILLERS. It's described
as a black comedy that revolves around the time of 11:14 in a sleepy middle American
town. A young man, played by Henry Thomas (Elliott in ET) is driving home, a little
drunk, when all of a sudden, a body drops from a bridge onto the top of his moving
car. Thinking that he has run over said human, Thomas's character tries to hide
the body in the truck of his car. Seconds later a police man pulls up with two
suspects in his back seat from a previous incident. From here on in, 11:14 follows
the chain of events surrounding five different characters who collide in a series
of deadly ironic twists… starting from that initial incident.
It
all sounds deeply confusing? Well it is and a million questions fire off seconds
after this film kicks in. And that's the beauty of this film. Heading up an all
star cast, that includes the likes of Patrick Swayze, Colin Hanks, Ben Foster
and Stark Sands, double Oscar winning actress, Hilary Swank also produces.
I
love to play the guessing game when I'm watching a film, and my first experience
of this was watching Michael J Fox in the second BACK TO THE FUTURE movie in the
early nineties. When Fox's character of Marty McFly returns to 1985 from the future,
all has changed as a knock on effect from earlier occurrences. When I first watched
that film, I was intrigued as to just what the hell was going on. A similar theme
is present in 11:14, and from the outset, watching that first scene, I knew I
was going to have a great time with this movie. Think of this film as five little
stories, five little short movies that all have a link with one another. It's
one of those flicks that keep you guessing, and every story answers a question
that you were asking yourself five minutes previous.
The
film, as previously mentioned, features an amazing cast. Once again, Hilary Swank
stars as a typical trailer park counter worker, Colin Hanks (Tom's son) as a frat
type guy roaming the desolate nighttime streets with his buddies in a van, Rachel
Leigh Cook as the rebellious teen and Patrick Swayze, in another departing role
as her overprotective father. All give superb performances and draw the most from
this quirky screenplay from writer-director Greg Marcks.
If
I have one problem with this movie, then it's the ending. There is no real resolution
to the goings on, and I was left a little disappointed with the outcome. I think
it's actually one of those movies that will take a second viewing to fully appreciate
it, and take in all of the little details that is sprinkled throughout.
Saying
that, I had a ball with the film, and is one of my first DVD recommendations for
2007. The only question I ask myself is why has this film taken so long to be
released (it was shot in 2003).
Anyway,
rent it, or go out and buy 11:14 now. Great cinema.
Sadly,
no extras besides the trailer and scene selections. Dissapinting as I was wanting
more at the end of watching this movie.
Who's
In It: Barbara Hershey, Patrick Swayze, Hilary Swank, Rachael Leigh Cook,
Henry Thomas, Ben Foster, Colin Hanks, Shawn Hatosy, Clark Gregg, Stark Sands
