The Brown Bunny (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Godd characterisation, performance
Disadvantages:	Too slow moving for some

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Bud Clay (Vincent Gallo) is a loner. He is a motorcycle racer and after loosing a race he decides to go on a road trip to California to reunite with his ex-girlfriend (Chloë Sevigny) Daisy who has been occupying his every thought. The trip is in dispersed with a serious of encounters that Bud has other women named after flowers. He offers a young girl called Violet a trip to California, but ditches her at the last minute, he kisses an older woman called Lilly then leaves and picks up a prostitute called Rose whom he takes out to lunch. He also pays a trip to Daisy's mother who talks about Daisy's pet bunny who she is looking after. He finally meets up with Daisy who gives him a blowjob, which leads to a startling twist which changes the nature of everything that has precedes it.

The Brown Bunny received notoriety in America after critic Roger Ebert publically called it the worst film in Cannes history that lead to a public slanging match between Gallo and Ebert. After the disastrous Cannes screenings Gallo went and re-edited the film and cut it down from 2 hours to an hour and a half. The film also gained publicity over the explicit scene of fellatio between Gallo and Sevigny towards the end of the film, which was inflamed after a giant billboard of the scene, was placed on Sunset Boulevard.

I approached the films with mixed expectations, could it really be all that bad? I liked Gallo's previous film Buffalo '66 and didn't want to go into the film disliking it because all I had heard were scathing reviews. I am glad to say that The Brown Bunny wasn't as bad as I had been led to believe. That isn't to say that it was an enjoyable film, or entertaining. It strives to be a work of cinematic art that is more about the psychology of the central character rather than the events of the film. In parts the film does reach the goals it sets itself, but ion other parts it horrible fails.

The film itself is relatively short in run time but from the shaky shots that open the film that show a motorcycle race in all it's tedium, you know this is a film that is going to seem longer than it actually is. There are endless shots of Bud driving, over the shoulder shots of the landscape, profiles of his face and just some shots that are pointed at the surroundings as they wiz past. It is in these moments when the film becomes quite boring. I am not saying that films should be all action, I love art house films that are often slow moving and don't have much action but there is a difference between slow moving and watching paint dry and in some instances The Brown Bunny falls into the latter. Sometimes it appears that because Gallo knows that a lot of the audience is waiting for the infamous scene he can do whatever he wants before it.

Despite these dull moments The Brown Bunny is a good film. No one does loner as good as Vincent Gallo, he did it in his own Buffalo '66 and also in Denis's Trouble Every Day. He brings a vulnerability to the role which creates a bond between Bud and the audience as he appears to be honestly baring his souls. The girl that got away is not a new story but you rarely see a character so dedicated and damaged by a failed relationship. His liason's with the other woman, also named after flowers seek to highlight this as Bud appears to be trying to find a replacement, but taking an approach that will never really work. There is a tragic-comic element to these encounters because the audience already knows that they will not work, and to take such a simple approach to finding Daisy's replacement, by concentrating on her name is almost darkly comic but heart rendering tragic. Gallo almost blindly wanders through the film; he is ultimately lost without Daisy.

No I come to the infamous scene. It is been one of the most talked about sex scenes in recent history and it is not hard to see why. It is extremely explicit and the shots are bordering on close up. It has also been focused on because of the names involved in it Gallo and especially Sevigny are known names. In films such as Nine Songs, Baise Moi or Shortbus there is explicit sex but the actors are relatively unknown, but to see famous actors daring to go that extra mile where others of their caliber wouldn't dare to go is also shocking in itself. The scene itself is anything but erotic or salacious. It is meant to be honest and also shows the hollowness of the action, there is no real romantic connection between the two, even though they are being so intimate, they are still very much alone.

The film has been accused of being a vanity project for Gallo and there elements of this in the opening credits, when Gallo's name is rarely on the screen, he fulfills nearly every role in the film from editor, to cinematographer, from actor to writer/director. If you visit his website it is also clear to see that Gallo has a bit of an ego, you can buy his sperm of have him for the weekend for a hefty price. Overall, however, I think this analysis is a bit preemptive. Yes this is Gallo's project and he wants you to know it but also the character Bud is not always seen in the most flattering light, especially when you see the final twist. If this film was purely there to massage his ego then I think he would have shown himself in a better light.

Overall The Brown Bunny is guaranteed to split audiences down the middle, you will either appreciate it or fall asleep in front of it. Its not one of those films that you can watch again and again or one you can just stick on to relax in front of. You have to be committed when watching it. It is a rewarding film and the final twist is clever and transforms the whole film adding a new dimension to it. I would recommend it, but not to everyone. Also if you want to watch it just for the sex you are going to be disappointed, it is a long time coming and although is very graphic it is far from erotic. An interesting watch, even though it is a little boring in places.