RUMOURS
(directors: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson; screenwriter: Evan Johnson; cinematographer: Stefan Ciupek; editors: John Gurdebeke, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson; music: Kristian Eidnes Andersen; cast: Cate Blanchett (Hilda Orlmann), Rolando Ravello (Antonio Lamorle), Charles Dance (Edison Wolcott), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Cardosa Dewindt), Denis Menochet (Sylvain Broulez), Roy Dupuis (Maxime Laplace), Takehiro Hira (Tatsuro Iwasaki), Zlatko Buric (Jonas Glob); Runtime: 104; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Liz Jarvis, Lars Knudsen, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson; Bleecker Street; 2024-Canada, Germany, Hungary, USA-in English, French, Swedish, and German, with English subtitles)
“It’s a high concept spoof that’s funny in spots but too poorly executed to make much of an impact.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Canadian filmmakers Guy Maddin (“The Rabbit Hunters”/”The Green Fog “), Evan Johnson (“The Rabbit Hunters”/”The Green Fog”), and Galen Johnson (“The Rabbit Hunters”/”The Green Fog”) are the three co-directors of this surreal political satire, that’s like a campy Bunuel Film. Evan Johnson writes the tacky screenplay with apocalyptic sci-fi and horror pic scenarios. It works best in its rant on class divisions and in exposing the personal foibles of the serious politicians, who are so inept they can’t get it together to handle even a simple diplomatic crisis.
A G7 summit is held in a woodsy area at a fancy palace. It draws the seven prominent leaders from the world’s richest democratic nations — the United States (Charles Dance), Canada (Roy Dupuis), France (Denis Menochet), the United Kingdom (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Italy (Rolando
Ravello), Japan (Takehiro Hira), and the European Commission’s Secretary-General (Alicia Vikander).
When a series of bizarre things happen (which don’t make sense but still make enough sense to be semi-believable), the confused members get stranded in the woods and are confronted by a giant brain. The point made is the incompetence of the political leaders is real.
It’s a high concept spoof that’s funny in spots but too poorly executed to make much of an impact.
REVIEWED ON 11/2/2024 GRADE: B-
dennisschwartzreviews.com