A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Wicker Man (2006)

Date Viewed: 9/2/06

Details:

Nicolas Cage (Edward Malus)

Ellen Burstyn (Sister Summersisle)

Kate Beahan (Sister Willow)

Frances Conroy (Dr. Moss)

Molly Parker (Sister Thorn/Sister Rose)

Leelee Sobieski (Sister Honey)

Diane Delano (Sister Beech, teacher)

Aaron Eckhart

Written & directed by: Neil LaBute

Score: 1/2

The Review: The original (1973) Wicker Man is a disturbing, fascinating, 60's-flavor fantasy/mystery that happens to transmute into a horror film as it nears its final moments. It's an odd vehicle for Edward Woodward, and his character is annoyingly closed-minded and intolerant -- an intense Calvinist prig -- a British cop pursuing a missing and possibly murdered girl on an isolated Summerisle. On the flight from the mainland (with a glimpse of the distinctive northeast coast of Skye), you get the impression the "hidden" island is somewhere in the Outer Hebrides. The countercultural religious, essentially Wiccan attitude, combined with its "in your face" spirit of "free love," were appealing in a certain retro sense. But (in respect to the 60's), I guess you had to be there.

The re-make has much of the flavor of the original (but) with all the details changed and updated. A single difference in characterization is that the new Edward is (eventually) given quite strong emotional rationale (an oxymoron?) for his search -- whereas the old Edward's search seems to be dominated by sheer bullheadedness and obsessive procedural completeness.

But there is a dominating, grating dissimilarity between old and new. The immediate affront to a stranger, purposeful mis-hearing and misinterpretation, insolent twisting of meaning and intent, prickly, a half step from belligerent -- this is how we are introduced to the "new" Summersisle and its residents. Not very appealing, that. Quite a contrast to the 60's-flavor Summerisle of the earlier ("old") film version. The new Summersisle (transported into the coastal NW of a far different continent) appears as a women's colony with few males -- the bees they keep and whose honey they harvest provide a not-so-subtle metaphor for what might be going on.

There are curious homage snippets that might be intentional, but might not -- like the first time we hear Edward's name, which is just after someone mumbles on the phone something that sounds like "Woodward." And if Kathy Bates ever needs a look-alike, we have found one in Molly Parker.

Both films "inspired" by the (currently out of print; try your library) 1967 novel Ritual by actor & playwright David Pinner -- but this inspiration was apparently never paid for nor explicitly acknowledged, giving rise to a plagarism suit. However, from my recent reading of the novel, this suit appears to be unfounded: there are but two scenes from the original film, and only one in the remake, that bear any vague resemblance -- and the entire sense of the novel, such that there is, has been bypassed. Given the odd (almost Beach Road-like) sudden plot twist that Pinner uses, it might make an interesting mystery on its own with no connection to any wicker furniture.

(2-Sep-06)

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