Funny Games – DVD Review

Pulp Fiction. Memento. Sixth Sense. All films that you probably had to watch at least twice before totally understanding everything that you saw. Maybe some of you sharp apples out there got everything in the first go-round, but I know for a fact that I did not. It’s not that they were off the wall and just so far out there that you needed to pay attention more then relax and enjoy a film, but they were just complex. Funny Games fits right into that category, but it may be a film that I need to watch at least two or three more times and also do some research before being able to finally say, “I get it.”

Be warned, there are spoilers to Funny Games in this review.

Ann and George have decided to go up to their lake house with their son Georgie to enjoy a little family time. A cookout, a little golf, and even some boating are all on the agenda for a fun time. Soon after their arrival, Ann is getting lunch ready while George and his son get the mast erected on their boat. But Ann’s private time doesn’t last long as a young man named Tom arrives and asks for some eggs. He says he is visiting with their next door neighbors and she needs a few for breakfast. Ann obliges but the clumsy boy drops them. This is only the beginning of their troubles.

Tom is joined by another young man named Paul a few minutes later and insists that Ann give him some more eggs. Their rudeness and brash ways cause her to ask for their departure and even cause her to ask George to throw them out. From that moment on the demeanor of the men never changes, but they spend the night with the family and play games with their lives. They ask them trivia questions, tie them up, make Ann strip down nude, beat George with a golf club, and even let the family know that they are going to die. Actually they make a bet with them that they’ll all be dead by 9 AM in the morning. Ann, George, and Georgie must cooperate with the polite psychopaths, but also find a way to stay alive.

If you’re looking for a more descriptive review of the film, don’t ask for one. That is virtually all the story really entails, but there is so much more to it that must be seen and heard to be believed. Never once do Paul or Tom lose their patience during this incredibly stressful time spent with the family so don’t expect a lot of screaming and yelling even though there is violence galore. They calmly and casually inflict serious amounts of mental and physical anguish on this family and never once do they care to rob them of any of their personal belongings. It’s going to puzzle you as to why exactly they are doing any of this, but don’t come running to me for answers because I don’t know either.

There are things that bother me about Funny Games making it far from a perfect film and the biggest thing is wasted time. After the two boys take off leaving Ann and George to dwell over the body of their now dead son; there’s a period of close to twenty-five minutes that are almost unbearable to sit through. I’m serious. I know that the filmmaker is letting the viewing audience actually sit through and experience what it would be like to having just been tortured, watch your son shot to death, and then try to go for help but my God it’s just incredibly painful to watch. There are actually a few scenes where a camera is focused on the outside of the house for a good minute or two. Chilling.

But the film has so many good qualities that if only at least twenty minutes was taken off, it’d be excellent. I know the reasoning behind it and it makes a lot of sense, but it’s hard to sit there through it all. Still, there was enough enjoyable stuff happening to keep you wanting to pay attention and sit throughout the duration. Perhaps one of the coolest is that Paul actually acknowledges the fact that they are in a film. It’s so awkward at first watching him break the fourth wall rule, but then you begin to realize what he is doing as things get more and more odd. No one, not even Tom, appears to know that they are not real but Paul does and lets the audience know it subtly at first and then very straight forwardly by asking us questions. Yes, he asks you questions as to what you think should happen next. Strange, but so incredibly innovative.

Funny Games is a film that makes me wrestle with my annoyance of being bored against my longing for great film-making. The moments where I was bored are very much needed and tenser moments and realism to the film, but had me wanting to just turn it off. Yet I never did because of my curiosity beating me up inside as to how the hell all would turn out. Never before has a film made me cringe and smile so much all at the same time. The sheer audacity with which Paul and Tom (Jerry and Peter, Beavis and Butthead…you’ll get that after watching it) torture this family while all the wile asking them not to be rude is just insurmountable. Funny Games could very well be considered torture porn and you may think you’re not into all that, but I can guarantee you that you’ll be into it here.

The film is shown in either Widescreen or Full Screen format which are both included on the DVD. They look exceptionally well save for a few scenes in the dark which are a little hard to see, but I do believe that is intentional for effect.

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and every single speaker is used to its utmost capability. A lot of scenes are shown while people off screen are speaking making the side and back speakers get a lot of usage. There are a few instances where the dialogue can’t be heard very well so you will need to adjust the volume from time to time which can become annoying, but it isn’t too often.

None – If ever there was a film that needed at least an audio commentary, this is it. I would have loved to have the director sitting down and discussing his intentions with the entire film and especially certain scenes. Perhaps one is included with the original which I am currently in the process of trying to track down a copy of.

Trailers

If it came off that Funny Games is a film I won’t watch again then I sincerely apologize. It is intriguing, tension-filled, disturbing, hilarious, and so many things rolled into one. Let’s not forget that it is incredibly filmed. The times when the camera stays focused on one of the family members in pain while Paul is talking off camera makes it so much more real and heart wrenching. Breaking down the fourth wall isn’t anything new, but it is done with precision and poise here that you won’t see in something like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. A couple of special features wouldn’t have upset me any because there is nothing I’d like more then an audio commentary or “making of” featurette. From what I’ve learned, this version is a line for line, scene for scene remake of the Austrian original from 1997. It remains to be seen by myself if that one is one is done as well as this one, but I am planning on checking it out as should you.

Oh, and a word to the wise; just because someone is well groomed and extremely polite, don’t think they won’t relieve you of every shred of dignity you possess and leave you for dead.

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Warner Independent Pictures presents Funny Games. Directed by: Michael Haneke. Starring: Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet, Devon Gearhart. Written by: Michael Haneke. Running time: 107 minutes. Rating: R. Released on DVD: June 10, 2008. Available at Amazon.com