It is quite
clear that a majority of the dialogue in Crystal
Fairy and the Magical Cactus (and 2012) is improvised, but that is not
necessarily a fault. Each of the actors embody the characters so unabashedly
that they feel sincere in their actions even when the film feels a bit
contrived, such as the film’s emotional climactic close. Based on
writer/director Sebastián Silva’s own experience with a San Pedro cactus and
woman named Crystal Fairy, there is a realism in the narrative which often
defies any structure or clear message. These are simply very different people
who come together over the hallucinogenic trip to the beach.
Michael Cera
heads up the cast as obnoxious American expatriate Jamie (Michael Cera), whose
personality often seems to grate on those closest to him. When Jamie runs into
a free-spirited American at a party named Crystal Fairy (Gaby Hoffman), he
impulsively invites her on a road trip with him and the three Chile Chile
The film leads
up to the sequences of drug use, which Jamie is annoyingly impatient to have
occur. The sequence of drug use is not as entertaining as you might hope, but
instead somewhat like being sober while someone else trips out of their mind.
It is funny and mildly amusing, but the novelty wears off much quicker than
their high. The most impressive aspect of the film is the fearless performance
by Gaby Hoffman, much more the contrived emotional revelation at the end than
her constant physical exhibitions.
The Blu-ray
release has a behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer.
Entertainment Value:
7.5/10
Quality of Filmmaking:
7/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
Disc Features: 5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment