#97 - Funny Games U.S.

Directed by Michael Haneke
2007 Thriller
Rated R

****

A LOT of people are going to misunderstand this movie, if not plain hate it. It is director Michael Haneke's (Cache) shot-for-shot remake of his 1997 film of the same name (minus the "U.S."). In it, two psychotic boys (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) take a couple (Naomi Watts, Tim Roth) hostage in their vacation home. Throughout a day and night, they make them play games to decide whether each will live or die. Haneke decided to remake his 1997 film because he wanted to reach a broader audience, particularly in the U.S., as that is who he made the original for in the first place. If you go in expecting your standard, paint-by-numbers R rated torture porn, you're in for a surprise. This film was Haneke's way of exploring the fascination he had with how desensitized American audiences seem to have become to grossly violent films. I could go on forever, but instead, i'll just wrap up by saying that if you are a person who views films solely as "entertainment," you will without a doubt HATE this film. However, if you go to films for both entertainment and maybe to be informed, or challenged, I think you'll really enjoy the experience.