Gaspar Noe's (of IRREVERSIBLE fame...) I STAND ALONE is neither very violent nor all that "disturbing". I don't know if I saw another film than what some other reviewers have seen - but this film really wasn't all that outstanding at all. Admittedly, I am amongst the few who felt IRREVERSIBLE was highly over-hyped and unremarkable also - and I STAND ALONE was no different to me. I applaud Noe for tackling "rougher" subject matter - but I always seem to leave his films feeling like something is missing. Although Noe likes to explore the "darker side" of life in his films, something about them just seems hollow and unfulfilling to me. I wish I could put my finger on what specifically it is, but I can't. Philippe Nahon's performance as "The Butcher" was admittedly very good, but the film as a whole just seemed way too long and became tedious and dull...up until the ultimately unfulfilling "climax"...
"The Butcher" is a guy who's had a pretty rough life. Due to all the sh!tty cards he's been dealt, he starts to snap and meditate on all the bad and disappointing things in his life and around him. He basically hates everyone and is ready to take it out on the world - the problem is - he never does...
I was expecting a strong "lunatic-on-a-rage-spree"-style film - maybe in the realm of FALLING DOWN or TAXI DRIVER (which this film pays obvious homage to...) but with stronger subject matter. Unfortunately, I STAND ALONE did not deliver. The film is almost entirely told in monologues from within The Butcher's mind, and although they are almost comical in their extreme nihilism, it gets old after the first half-hour or so. Nahon DOES give a very strong performance as a down and out, but still proud, blue-collar worker that is quickly losing his mind - but he is pretty much the only redeeming factor of the film. I think this film would have had MUCH more impact as a 30 minute-or-so short film, but at 90 minutes, it just drags on for too long. I've been waiting to see this one for a long time, and I have to say I'm honestly pretty disappointed. Worth a look for Nahon's performance - but I STAND ALONE is not the "disturbing, nihilistic-bloodbath" that I was lead to believe and was expecting...6/10
"The Butcher" is a guy who's had a pretty rough life. Due to all the sh!tty cards he's been dealt, he starts to snap and meditate on all the bad and disappointing things in his life and around him. He basically hates everyone and is ready to take it out on the world - the problem is - he never does...
I was expecting a strong "lunatic-on-a-rage-spree"-style film - maybe in the realm of FALLING DOWN or TAXI DRIVER (which this film pays obvious homage to...) but with stronger subject matter. Unfortunately, I STAND ALONE did not deliver. The film is almost entirely told in monologues from within The Butcher's mind, and although they are almost comical in their extreme nihilism, it gets old after the first half-hour or so. Nahon DOES give a very strong performance as a down and out, but still proud, blue-collar worker that is quickly losing his mind - but he is pretty much the only redeeming factor of the film. I think this film would have had MUCH more impact as a 30 minute-or-so short film, but at 90 minutes, it just drags on for too long. I've been waiting to see this one for a long time, and I have to say I'm honestly pretty disappointed. Worth a look for Nahon's performance - but I STAND ALONE is not the "disturbing, nihilistic-bloodbath" that I was lead to believe and was expecting...6/10