by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What are the dangers of highlighting the lives and actions of mass killers? The attention is what they want, and putting a spotlight on them is giving them exactly what they want. For some reason, mass murderers have become a topic of filmmaking. The Unabomber just recently got a whole film that dove deep into his life and perspective. Other films like The Fallout and Mass focused on the aftermath and the victims. But one disturbing film that made a splash at Cannes, as well as in Australia, is Nitram.
What story does this film tell? There is a disturbed young man who lived in Tasmania. He had a sick sense of humor, including making dangerous gags like shaking the steering wheel while others drove. He was a distant young man whose mother did not know how to handle him and a father who struggled with his own depression and mental health issues. We see him lose those in his life and spiral to the point and do something beyond evil. But you sit and watch this film wondering if we should be experiencing his life with him. The most disturbing reason is where the true story takes us. This is a young man who murdered many people at the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre. Whether or not it is right to try an humanize this mass murderer…this narrative is certainly compelling.
But what if you can get past the controversy of the story itself? There is some impressive direction at work. Director Justin Kurzel injects so much tension and suspense into this thriller. There is an atmosphere that makes you as an audience member concerned about what will occur around every corner. There is also a strange dreamlike feel to the film (maybe to put distance between the actual events and what is portrayed). Impressive camerawork and editing helps make this a memorable technical experience.
But what is the real reason that this film will get praise? Caleb Landry Jones continues his career of creating disturbing and unnerving characters with his leading turn. Jones brings a chaotic energy to his performance that makes it hard to look away from him on screen. There is a tragicness to him, but also a sense of evil deep below the surface. Especially by the end, he feels more like a demonic prankster. There was a childlike energy inside a grown man who had the capacity to commit dangerous and life-threatening acts. You will struggle to get Jones’ performance out of your head.
What about the rest of this impressive cast? Judy Davis offers up a stern and strong performance as Jones’ mother (his biggest antagonist). Davis is the figure that helps remind us of the horrible capacity of this young man. When he seems to find love in his life and his lover sees him as a good genuine young man, Davis offers up a sobering piece of reality in a way that only her talents can. Anthony LaPaglia is on a much different speed. His tragic turn as the father is purely raw. LaPaglia cries, screams, and laughs in all equal parts along the way. This range is a chaotic piece to the film that reinforces the unbalanced nature of this reality. Essie Davis, of Babadook fame, is the purest and sweetest presence in a film full of damaged and complex characters. She struggles with the love she feels and the red flags that Jones is waving (which she plays off with great empathy).
Is this worth seeing? Nitram will certainly divide audiences in whether it should even see the light of day. If you can get past the controversy, this is an expertly crafted film from a talented director. There is a group of extremely talented actors who make the audience feel so much. I am sure people will be talking about Nitram for a long time, but it is always important to remember those affected by the tragic events of the Port Arthur massacre.
Score: 8/10
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