The Movie Guru

by Brandon Athey
Features Editor

After recently taking a second look at the film “Spider” and with “A History of Violence” coming to DVD in March, I felt it was time to profile director David Cronenberg and a few of his better works. Ever since I saw his 1986 version of “The Fly,” I’ve been fascinated with Cronenberg’s mixture of psychological drama, gore, and complex themes. Unlike that other “David,” as in David Lynch, Cronenberg does not use strange imagery merely for the sake of being surreal. If there is something disturbing going on in a Cronenberg film, it is to challenge and provoke viewers into thinking about what they are seeing, not just to show off gross-out effects. Yes, his movies are often flat-out disgusting, but that doesn’t remove them of their credibility as important cinema. Because of his ability to unflinchingly show the darker sides of human nature, Cronenberg, with Martin Scorsese just slightly ahead of him, is the best director currently working in modern North American cinema. His films may not be for the squeamish, but for those who take the plunge, they will be endlessly rewarded.

I had the opportunity to see Cronenberg’s latest, “A History of Violence,” last fall, which features Viggo Mortensen as Tom, a Midwestern small-town everyman whose life is plunged into tragedy and uncertainty after killing two men trying to rob his beloved diner. Called a hero by the media and his fellow townspeople, Tom’s family is thrust into the public eye and later stalked by a mysterious stranger, played by the immortal Ed Harris, who claims that he has a secret past. To reveal more would be criminal.

The film is deliberately paced to reflect the slow goings-on of small-town life. It is slow, but it needs to be in order to build tension. The snail-like pacing makes the sudden bursts of violence that much more shocking. When I saw the film, I overheard a couple behind me complaining of the slow pace, then commented on how excited they were that “Cheaper by the Dozen 2” was being released. I guess there is no accounting for taste. Regardless of what the couple sitting behind me thought of “A History of Violence,” I found it to be one of the best films of 2005.

“Spider,” Cronenberg’s last film before the release of “Violence,” features Ralph Fiennes in one of his best performances, portraying a man suffering from schizophrenia. However, there are no sentimental “A Beautiful Mind” theatrics here. This is a dark, compelling story of the life of someone with a psychological disorder as seen through their eyes. The film is one of the more challenging yet understated in Cronenberg’s oeuvre, which explains for its subpar box office. Its quirky rhythms are admittedly difficult to become emotionally involved with, but that is Cronenberg’s point. A person who is suffering from schizophrenia is going to have a much more complicated life than the everyday person. However, once the viewer gets accustomed to the challenge, the mystery at the heart of the film becomes an eye-opening experience. One of the most unfairly neglected films of this decade, 2002’s “Spider” is a rewarding web for movie fans.

In 1999, Cronenberg slipped under the radar with his ode to virtual reality and video games, “eXistenZ.” Featuring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, and Willem Dafoe, this film poses philosophical questions regarding the purpose of entertainment as well as wondering “What is reality?” Although similar in theme to “The Matrix,” released that same year, the film is the opposite of that blockbuster. Smaller in scope and less reliant on “gee-whiz” special effects, the film still proves to be a fun roller-coaster ride, albeit an incredibly gory one. Although not Cronenberg’s best film, I feel “eXistenZ” is the most underrated film of its genre in recent memory.

In terms of Cronenberg’s best film, my vote goes to the 1988 chiller “Dead Ringers,” with Jeremy Irons playing twin gynecologists who embark on a bizarre and tragic love triangle with patient Genevieve Bujold. However, for Cronenberg newbies, I would suggest starting with the Stephen King adaptation “The Dead Zone” or the 1986 remake of “The Fly” in order to get a grasp on his recurring themes while seeing two of the best horror/sci-fi films of all time, especially since an excellent two-disc DVD of “The Fly” was released last October. Wherever you may begin, consider yourself warned. Once you start exploring the genius of David Cronenberg, there is no turning back. To quote “The Fly,” remember: be afraid. Be very afraid.