Movie #256 Rubber *2011*

This is the serial killing tire movie.  That's right, a tire that becomes sentient and goes off on a killing spree.  What would you say if I told you that wasn't even the strangest part of the movie?

Rubber was written and directed by Quentin Dupieux.  It is distributed by Magnet.  If you haven't heard of Magnet I suggest you check them out.  They are releasing some high quality fringe films.

So what is stranger than a tire rolling around exploding peoples heads through some type of telekinesis?  An audience within the film watching the exploits of this rubber ring.  An opening monologue from one of the characters in the film, the sheriff.  He and a few others know that they are part of a movie.  At least some of the times they are. 

This is a difficult film to discuss.  Both due to the nature of the subject matter (how much can be said about the premise) and the events that occur to the viewers within the film.  It is my opinion that the film makers are trying to make some sort of a statement about the complacency of modern film goers.  Or perhaps the laziness of his contemporary film makers.  The basic narrative of this films revolves around a tire.  The audience seems interested, but can't explain why.  The opening monologue is an ode to "no reason".  That is to say that it pays tribute to things in classic films that don't make any sense or that happen for "no reason".  I think the metaphor was stretched a little thin in the rest of the film.  And I resent being mocked by a film maker after I pay money to watch his film.

None the less I did enjoy the movie.  And to be totally honest the parts that I enjoyed the most were the ones that centered on the tire.  I feel that Mr. Dupieux did a marvelous job communicating thought process and emotion from an inanimate object.  When Robert (we find out the tire's name in the closing credits) stumbles away from his early grave I understood what was going through it's mind.  Yes, I know how dumb that sounds but if you are going to be on-board with a tire killing with nothing more than it's will then it is not that far of a leap to refer to a tire's "mind".  There is a sense of puzzlement when Robert encounters an empty, plastic water bottle.  Once he rolls over it causing it to crush there is a feeling of excitement.  It is refreshing to have such a visual expression of emotion.  The frustration when Robert can't crush a bottle, it's lust over a beautiful woman, the rage and frustration when he sees people pitching tires on a fire all were very visceral moments.  I would not say that the tire fire scene held the emotional heft that a scene at Auschwitz would, but it is fair to say the the scene drew comparisons. 

If Mr. Dupieux is trying to make some sort of social comentary about modern film making or the audiences that see these films his point was understood.  My point would be that he made a movie that out shines the type of mindless entertainment that he set out to spoof.  There lessening the impact of his message.

I give Rubber ★★★.