Blindness Starring Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo
Based on Jose Saramango's Novel, Blindness is Released to DVD in February 2009
May 8, 2009
Director Fernando Meirelles creates a running theme around the title and main subject of the movie; throughout, there is a much greater emphasis on sound and emotion than on visuals. This is somewhat unusual for film, and stands out immediately, in the opening scenes. He keeps a fairly steady air of confusion surrounding all of these nightmarish events, and using some unconventional photography and overlapping sounds manages to recreate the feel of utter terror and unbalance that his characters would be feeling.
Blindness tells a Familiar Story but Still Has Surprises
While this movie does cover bases that have been done before – sweeping plague, decline of civilization, widespread desperation – it manages some originality, as well.
The plot centers on an upper class couple who are involved with the plague from the very start because the husband is the opthamologist who sees the first victim. Unaware that his previously unheard of disease could be contagious, the victim comes into the waiting room, eventually infecting everyone there with his strange symptoms – no pain, no visible change in the eye, just a sudden flooding whiteness that overtakes normal vision.
While some other victims come into play, and there develops quite a war between wards of their quarantined hospital, the main storyline stays with this couple. Both of them suffer terrible things, endure wrenching loss, but must stick together to survive. Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore star as this central couple, and even just their performances make the movie worth watching.
Recommended for Fans of...
This movie falls somewhere between the drama and thriller genres. There is very little blood, but there is some suspense, and a few disturbing scenes. Fans of Donnie Darko, Perfume: Story of a Murderer, or most recently The Wrestler may like this movie. The pacing is good and the plot is engrossing, but there is a definite artsy twist that may keep some away.
Though Mark Ruffalo got his start and established his name in chick flicks (Just Like Heaven, 13 Going on 30, Rumor Has It) he has made a very distinct turn for more dramatic roles in the past couple years with All the King’s Men, Rendition, and Zodiac. His most recent movie, What Doesn’t Kill You, features him as a drug addict and criminal who neglects his family on a regular basis to seek his next hit. This is pretty much as far away from 13 Going on 30 as it gets. Blindness falls right in with these serious roles, and for those that liked him in Rendition, this will be another good one.
