Kermode Uncut: The Movies Inside Jim Thompson

[alexshala]

If you're making a film that's about a misogynist (in this case Casey Affleck's murderer character) then it makes sense that more violence towards women would be shown. I don't think the protracted shots on the violence sensationalize it any way, it's a misogynist character rather than a misogynist film.

[MrVinushka]

I still think Once Upon A Time In America has the most disturbing rape scene - not because it's particularly graphic or anything, but it's so well acted and you actually know and feel for the characters a great deal by the point it happens. In fact, the place in the story where it happens is possibly the most upsetting part about it.

With Irréversible, it was brutal and shocking, but after the first 4 minutes or so, it loses its punch. Plus, you're not really invested in the character yet.

[errrrwhatthe]

Pop 1280, The Grifters and The Killer Inside me ae my favourite Jim Thompson books. Having said that I haven't read a bad Thompson book, they're all good in their individual way.

[terratrema]

@errrrwhatthe

Yeah, he's awesome. And The Getaway (the novel) is so much better than those rotten movies based upon it.

I love how it turns from a fun, exciting, amoral thriller to a surreal, creepy horror story in it's final chapter.

[DAandFrank]

Kermode is bang on here. Scenes like the two in The Killer Inside Me will inevitably be initially criticised for stylising or even eroticising/sexualising violence against women, irrespective of how they're shot, the details of what they contain, or even the reaction the director is intending/hoping to get from the audience. In the case of those two scenes, however, it's clear that the purpose is absolutely to invoke horror and disgust.

[mrbain123]

Why do they need to include such extensive, explicit scenes of sexual violence against women at all? In fact its often the stuff that you don't see directly which can be the most effective (e.g. the camera cuts away). During The Killer Inside Me I sometimes felt like i wanted to turn the film off. Call me old fashioned but I don't want to get that feeling when watching a film. Additionally to me the character was simply a sadist and was in no way likeable or alluring after a while.

[4gearkier]

The Getaway is the most famous Thompson adaptation, but my favourite Thompson novel hasn't been made into a film, I love SAVAGE NIGHT.

Has anyone seen the French Adaptation of Pop 1280?

[BRm2008]

this movies sounds awesome. his movies dont interest me. coz they are pretentious dross

[moderndaymerlin]

I completely agree with the notion that violence against women should be portrayed in media as morally repugnant. However, the main problem I had personally with the film was that the violence was heavily weighted against women, with the majority of violence against men being significantly less brutal in comparison

[LePierre]

I don't see what the big deal is. The scenes in the film aren't as vile as I was expecting at all. If anything it was refreshing to see violence portrayed in a blunt and horrifying manner that is usually relegated to foreign films. Also it is pretty obvious that throughout the film we're inhabiting the mind of a serial-killer, and the scenes do build on the psychological journey of Casey Affleck's character rather than just acts he is committing.

Great film.

[Guedingen]

@Motosuna1982 Well said. it's a terribly overated film anyway (Keystone Cops meet the Godfather) and that scene is vile, as is the whole sorry mess. Straw Dogs is another specimen of vacuous tripe served up as 'controversial'. Still, these tedious flicks wouldn't see the light of day without actresses playing up to 'auteurs'. I'm dog tired of this kind of cinema anyway and won't be seeing this.

[screwball82]

@Guedingen "You won't be seeing this" - by that statement you destroyed your argument...you haven't seen it, so how can you make the statements you made? It's not a perfect film, but it is a very good watch, and a great study of a sociopath...the exploration of the nature of violence in our sexuality is brilliant

[scp483]

"Misogynist, misogynist, misogynist." When is a film with violence against males ever called misandrist?

[amhemsley]

@scp483 Maybe it's because those movies are made by men themselves? Maybe it's because the violence towards men isn't sexualised in the way violence towards women so often is? Maybe because misandry isn't so prevalent through out our society that it gets constantly reflected in our media?

[williamwilson666]

@amhemsley More likely that misandry isn't given the same attention- nor attributed the same significance misogyny is.

[serpico18]

Big fan of Winterbottom. Have yet to see 'Killer..' And missed your interview with MW. However, I saw Irreversible & left the cinema during the rape scene as I was so shaken by it. It took me a considerable amount of time to appreciate what the director's intention was. With that in mind, I find it hard to understand why an intelligent filmmaker, such as MW, feels the need to remind their audience how truly awful violence is. What is the value of such a scene/movie beyond stating the obvious?

[Jcolinsol]

Personally, I think that violence against women, and really any content intended to be repugnant, should be shot as objectively as possible. If you are going to put challenging content into a film, then you need to respect the viewer, and not condescend to them by manipulating their emotions.

Generally, when I encounter intentionally shocking stuff in films, take the extended torture scenes in Takashi miike's "Imprint" I just end up rolling my eyes and detaching from the film.

[notaninvaildname]

I think it should depend on style and what the film is about. If you want to create an experience that is horrorific to watch, and as Kermode said he flinced etc, then that is fine.

However, say the film wants the audience to witness it from a character perspective. Say he is aroused or seduced, then a rape scene could be stylised and have seductive elements. This second one however, would be a lot more controversial as it demonstartes rape to be sexual and maybe even a good experience.

[billfenner1967]

Definitely going to see Killer Inside Me this weekend. On the topic of Thompson, The Getaway (original McQueen one) is really cool. Though, I saw it again recently and was stunned at how ghastly the soundtrack is for that film. And Quincy Jones did it! Absolutely terrible. But a terrific film despite that. Gotta also say The Grifters is a really solid adaptation too.

[axeman3d]

If a film-maker does a scene that's so horrific most of the audience walked out, then he's not doing his job right. He's not selling movies and he's not telling the whole story. You can imply, you can make something implicit, you dont have to go in gynaecological detail in order to make something horrific. He isn't misogynist, it's not cool to beat women, but he's taken it a might too far if people are freaked out at him for it.

[tooyjfwn]

Murder being portrayed as an unpleasant act?! Heaven forfend! Mayo is an idiot. Oh and yes I obviously agree with the good Doc.

[weejockpoopongmcplop]

I agree and would add that your point should really apply to violence in general. A proper portrayal would be disturbing because in real life it is disturbing.

[Rueuhy]

The response of the audience is not the deciding factor in the debate of too little or too much. For a audience to watch the worst elements of a scene and come away with the conclusion that it was just "too much" is denial in the story being told. If a director and cast portray a scene to a point that takes the audience past the point of comfortableness is an artistic achievement and is exactly what the audience has paid for. This clearly hinges upon the scope and depth of the story line.

[CreatureDrumNBass]

YEH, I AGREE

[terrycrumley]

ONE