No one can make guilt look as beautiful as Abel Ferrara. In 'The Blackout' he drags you down into a mud of obsession, self-loathing and substance-abuse, showing you that anxiety can be a trip in itself. The timeline is torn and bent out of shape, and it feels like half the movie is a flashback. Combine that with several layers of superimposed tripping and artistic handheld video footage of erotic dancers and you have something resembling 'The Blackout'. The acting is almost as excellent as the direction. Matthew Modine plays surprisingly well as the tortured Hollywood actor, and both Beatrice Dalle and Claudia Schiffer play their (albeit flat) characters flawlessly. I feel however that Dennis Hopper has started regurgitating what has become his only personality, and it wears thin. I usually love his performance, but in this film I could have done without him. Some will stress the need for a clearly defined plot, thereby completely dismissing efforts like this. A shame, since Ferrara is one of the few directors who can convincingly create a view into the depths of human depravation. The film is filled with great visuals, and carries a very recognizable Ferrara-look, feel and theme.
Review of The Blackout
