Dr. Severin Exx read Krysta the Book of Revelation while she was under hypnosis. He called it a "strange hybrid of the sensibilities of Andy Warhol and Philip K. The theatrical cut of "Southland Tales" has been extensively reedited -- a subplot has been excised, additional special effects shots have been inserted, a new explanatory sequence opens the movie -- and critics have been considerably kinder to it. The original script involved blackmail, a porn star, and two cops. Several days before the movie starts, on the same houseboat on Lake Mead, Tab Taverner, Ronald/Roland's father, told Ronald -- who has amnesia -- that he must kidnap his brother in order to protect him. Amy Poehler and Wood Harris appear as Neo-Marxist activists. The baby, she explains, is the Messiah, and Jericho is his guardian. Edit, The idea of not having a bowel movement really doesn't seem to have anything to do with being the messiah; it's more of a sign of human evolution led by the new messiah. This article is viewable at Salon.com here and is intended to give to viewer a better perception of the movie itself and answer questions not cleared up in the movie.An interview with Richard Kelly from the February issue of the film magazine Empire. When cops arrive on the scene, he still doesn't stop,. So the parallels with the Bible are kind of buried. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. She became psychic when a plane she was on -- United 23 -- flew through the rift in space-time above Lake Mead. Roland Taverner, his (alleged) twin -- a racist cop -- is sitting unconscious in the main room, having been kidnapped and drugged by the Neo-Marxists. They decided to take advantage of her powers. NEXT UP REVOLVER (2005)!Southland Tales competed for. The second section of the film ("V: Memory Gospel") begins. Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates. The three perform an abstract dance. What does the Latin inscription "oderint dum metuant" on the UPU cars mean? For half of Kelly's epic film about the end of the world, characters are quoting T.S. Vaughn sends a car to pick up Boxer and bring him back to the Frost mansion. Also, a very subtle reference took place when Bart Bookman (Jon Lovitz) had just killed Dream and Dion: he said "Flow my tears". Roland, a Hermosa Beach police officer, became involved in a "deep conspiracy" and he would be in grave danger if anyone found out that he was alive. This is because, at the end of the day, Southland Tales is a very indulgent, very silly and weirdly endearing film that all manages to come together in a near indescribable sweet spot. Eventually, the Antichrist will show up and take over the world. Southland Tales encapsulates these anxieties in the form of US-IDent, a state agency that can hear and see everyone in America at all times. Zelda Rubinstein and Beth Grant portray Dr. Katarina Kuntzler and Dr. Inga Von Westphalen, members of the baron's entourage. The 2008 election, which is being fought between Clinton-Lieberman (Democrats) and Eliot-Frost (Republicans), hinges on the electoral votes of the state of California. Why does the movie start with Boxer Santaros asleep on a beach? Thomas Rogers is Salon's former Arts Editor. "Teen Horniness is Not a Crime" by Sarah Michelle Gellar, Abbey McBride, ClarKent11. Our weekly culture newsletter from books and art to pop culture and memes sent every Friday. Boxer (The Rock) dances with Krysta (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Madeline (Mandy Moore); he stops dancing, knowing that he's going to die, and the tattoo of Jesus on his back starts bleeding. Edit, Richard Kelly stated in his interview with Empire, If Roland Taverner pulls the trigger and kills himself, the ice-cream truck will fall and the gateway it opens will close, and it's that gateway that may be humankind's salvation, so suicide represents surrendering to defeat. As the movie suggests, the Baron conducted secret experiments, headed by Simon Theory, with soldiers in Iraq. We may have to wait for the DVD commentary to figure that one out. You could argue that all of Southland Tales occurs in the Tangent Universehence the film's alternate history of the past three years, and its weird mishmash of pop culture. If you haven't seen the movie and don't want to have it -- or the graphic novels -- spoiled, you should stop reading this right now. The title refers to the Southland, a name used by locals to refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles. Reading the graphic novels shows that she had the revelation of the screenplay, which happened (more or less) as she said it would, much as the book of revelation was occurring (more or less) as John had proposed it. What exactly happens at the end of the movie? Support 100 years of independent journalism. And then you would miss all the jokes and stop enjoying the dance sequences. It was first released in 2006 to almost uniformly terrible reviews, and has since found an audience with fans who love it for its great ambition, its disdain for common sense, and its prescient use of neo-Marxism, internet censorship and celebrity sex-tapes as harbingers of the future. All three graphic novels were written by Richard Kelly, with artwork by Brett Weldele. | The idea with the severed thumbs is that the Neo-Marxists have figured out a way to create a free-floating voter. External Reviews Fortunio's goons inject Boxer with fluid karma and load him into an ambulance. Why did Roland Taverner end up driving Boxer Santaros through the space-time rift? However, its inventor Baron von Westphalen and his associates are hiding the fact that the generators alter the ocean's currents and cause the Earth to slow its rotation, and that the transmission of Fluid Karma to portable receivers (via quantum entanglement) is ripping holes in the fabric of space and time. Eliot or the Book of Revelation. [36], 41% of 106 reviews compiled by review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes are positive, and the average rating is 4.9 out of 10. What exactly happens at the end of the movie? What's up with Baron Von Westphalen (Wallace Shawn)? So it's trying to say that our veterans are the biggest badasses that we have. Ronald agrees to take Boxer for a ride-along so he can research his role. Why did Roland Taverner end up driving Boxer Santaros through the space-time rift? Is the screenplay important for understanding the movie? The quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. The name may also reference the actor Fortunio Bonanova who starred as Carmen Trivago in the film Kiss Me Deadly, itself a considerable influence on Southland Tales. | . Donnie Darko had just debuted there in January of 2001 and as soon as he got back, Richard. You know those overlooked classics that are critically ignored only to blossom into beautiful definitive works over time.like "Pinkerton" or "Starship Troo. Boxer walks up to the Frost mansion, where his wife, Madeline Frost (Mandy Moore), and the Frost team are waiting for him. Krysta has decided to make her sex tape public by placing it into a Neo-Marxist drop box. Why does Pilot dream about the song "All These Things I've Done" by The Killers? [12] Editorial changes were made to restructure the order of the film's scenes, including re-recording all of Timberlake's voice-over. The name Treer is a reference to Trier, Marx's birthplace. His follow-up is a decidedly post-9/11 story, haunted by the Iraq War. Edit, Awards [9] The idea of six graphic novels was later cut down to three. In Donnie Darko, the world ends when the Tangent Universe collapses, which may also be what happens at the end of Southland Tales. "[5], In January 2021, Richard Kelly announced that developments are underway to expand the film into a franchise with intention being that the original cast return. Why that happens when the Taverners touch, only Richard Kelly knows. The anagram of his name, FREAK MAN VIRTUE is most important, foreshadowing the ultimate destiny of Martin in the film. She may also be representative of the Whore of Babylon (ancient Babylon situated in what is now Iraq) and her energy drink the "Cup of Abominations".Madeline Frost Santaros: He learns that his account has been blocked, so Kefauver and Ronald use the Hummer to rip the ATM from the wall. Many people think wireless electricity is the thing that could rescue us from our dilemma as we reach the end of the petroleum era. Not really, but it explains why the tattoo of Jesus on the back of Boxer's neck starts bleeding at the end of the film. Zora Carmichaels and Bart Buchman return to the Neo-Marxist headquarters, where we learn that the two are lovers and have planned the murder of Dion and Dream. Jericho Cane is the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in "End of Days.". Much of Pilot Abilene's voiceover consists of direct quotations from the Book of Revelation. Why that happens when the Taverners touch, only Richard Kelly knows. "[16] Kelly said the film's biggest influences are Kiss Me Deadly, Pulp Fiction, Brazil, and Dr. Strangelove. In this article, Kelly is interviewed about some of the less straightforward aspects of Southland Tales. ", "This is the way the world ends, This is the way the world ends, This is the way the world ends, Not with a whimper, but with a bang.". Edit, Moments before the whole Fallujah incident, when Pilot and Roland were roping down their helicopter, Pilot is nervous so Roland gives him his iPod to listen to. "[12] He described the film as a "tapestry of ideas all related to some of the biggest issues that I think we're facing right now . Madeline walks in and tells him that he has been speaking in his sleep. Nowadays, the debate surrounding freedom, privacy,. As part of his participation in the Neo-Marxists' plot, Ronald must pretend to be his brother Roland and accompany Boxer during his movie research. It turns out that Fortunio has been on the Baron's payroll all along. SOUTHLAND TALES is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Running time: 160 minutes. It foretells the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ (Pilot Abilene keeps reading it on the soundtrack). Dragon from Revelation 12 and 13 (Puppet of the Anti-Christ)Pilot Abeline: Pilot Abilene, who has been watching the scene from his gun turret, shoots and kills Starla. | It exists under the Earth's mantle, circles the world like a "serpent," and, as the movie explains, is being used by the Baron to power his Utopia energy plants. But if "Southland Tales" follows the same logic as "Donnie Darko," as laid out in that film's DVD extras, when the fourth dimension is corrupted, it causes the creation of two parallel universes: the Tangent Universe and the Primary Universe. So what's causing the Earth to slow down ? What's Justin Timberlake doing in all of this? [18] After the film's festival release, Southland Tales was purchased by Sony Pictures (via their label Destination Films) and Samuel Goldwyn Films, originally Sony Pictures Classics, Screen Gems and TriStar Pictures were up for US distribution rights. Using the graphic novels, the Book of Revelation, friends and whatever else we could find, we've pieced together everything you need to know (or at least everything we've been able to figure out) about "Southland Tales.". All of these references to Marxism aren't entirely unconnected to the film's biblical references. Just before it hits, Boxer extends his arms, and his tattoo of Jesus begins to bleed in the nape of his neck. She cuts the ribbon as USIDent employees -- dressed in windbreakers -- applaud. Edit, Their role is explained a lot better in the graphic novels: they are the heads of the Neo-Marxists and are also street poets who have released several albums. One copy of Boxer traveled 69 minutes back in time, while the other copy was killed by an explosive charge in the car. For some reason, Wallace Shawn is dressed like a new-wave Japanese pimp. Edit, Operation Dream Theory was an experiment created by Treer. Edit, It is implied that they are either divorced or brother and sister. There are now two versions of each co-existing in the same universetwo Boxer Santaros and two Roland Taverners. Back at USIDent headquarters, we learn that Boxer was kidnapped at a charity scavenger hunt several days earlier, and a charred body, presumed to be his, has been found in the desert near Lake Mead. Above him, Pilot Abilene (Justin Timberlake) sits in a gun turret and recites from the Book of Revelation, Robert Frost's poem "The Two Roads" and an inverted version of T.S. It has a similar plot to Southland Tales, but with different characters and more gratuitous product placement. Then, a mushroom cloud appears on the horizon, and history jumps the tracks. [4][5], Along with two other American filmmakers (Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette and Richard Linklater's Fast Food Nation), Kelly's follow-up to Donnie Darko was in competition for the coveted Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival[32] and was screened on May 21 at the Grand Lumiere Theater. Most of the screenplay is included in the "Prequel Saga.". Eliot's "Hollow Men. What is the glowing orb carried around by Dr. Kuntzler? The current world ends, the joined souls become the new messiah, a new world begins. Southland Tales is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. With many repeated usage, Chemical Bleeders can sometimes see both ways (ahead and back in time). Cheri Oteri plays Zora Carmichaels, while Jon Lovitz plays violent police officer Bart Bookman who is in love with Zora. Singer Rebekah Del Rio, who (as herself) performs the "Star Spangled Banner" onboard the mega-zeppelin, is also featured in David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive." Also, they had sex. "[28] Salon.com critic Andrew O'Hehir called the Cannes cut "about the biggest, ugliest mess I've ever seen. The Book of Revelation is the last book in the New Testament. 9 in D Minor, op. Interview with Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried", "Southland Tales director hopes to reunite with Dwayne Johnson for planned sequel", "Richard Kelly Talks 'Southland Tales', The Time Travel Prequel & His James Cameron-Inspired 'Donnie Darko' Sequel [Interview]", Southland Tales: Music From The Motion Picture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southland_Tales&oldid=1140958996, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles with dead external links from July 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from September 2018, Articles with dead external links from March 2018, Short description is different from Wikidata, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Wave of Mutilation" (UK surf version) by, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 17:09. How would that work? Starla Von Luft, the double-crossing USIDent employee, is reading a copy of "The Power" at work. Several soldiers were selected (Pilot, Roland, Rick [from the graphic novels]) as test subjects and were injected with Fluid Karma before going out into battle. Dr. Severin Exx read Krysta the Book of Revelation while she was under hypnosis. [35] The Village Voice critic J. Hoberman, for example, called Southland Tales "a visionary film about the end of times" comparable in recent American film only to David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Zora Carmichaels (Cheri Oteri), a member of the Neo-Marxist movement, buys blank bullets from Walter Mung (Christopher Lambert) in an ice cream truck filled with weapons. Edit, Richard Kelly envisioned the story as being told across multiple formats. The generators depicted in the film, and similar real-life power sources, are not closed systems but open ones. "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death"Revelation 11: The Tangent Universe is an alternate reality to our own. Eliot's "Hollow Man" ("This is the way the world ends/ Not with a bang but with a whimper") and Robert Frost's "The Two Roads" ("Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-/ I took the one less traveled by"). "In its willful, self-involved eccentricity, Southland Tales is really something else. Kind of buried and his tattoo of Jesus begins to bleed southland tales ending explained the film, and jumps. Refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles up to receive information regarding NS,! Turns out that Fortunio has been on the horizon, and Jericho is guardian. Oteri plays Zora Carmichaels, while the other copy was killed by an explosive charge in the nape his! Last Book in the film 's biggest influences are Kiss Me Deadly, Pulp Fiction, Brazil, and is! 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