Lorna Irvine reviews 'a crowd-pleaser with brains and cojones'.
The portmanteau film seems to be making something of a comeback of late. Writer/director Damian Szifron's scabrous black comedy drama follows in the grand tradition of classics like Short Cuts and Pulp Fiction, and sits comfortably between the two, over two decades later, yet is utterly unique in its vision.
It's jaw-dropping, cunning, and wrong-foots the viewer at every turn.
From a vengeful pilot (particularly creepy given this week's airline disaster) to a furious father sick of bureaucracy, to a waitress who wants to poison an odious customer who ruined her family's life, the plots twist in chilling, hilarious and utterly unexpected ways. Javier Julia's sweeping cinematography takes us into the heart of these claustrophobic spaces, which steam with oppressive heat. The ensemble cast are all excellent.
The teenage drunk driver Santi's tale is the most harrowing, but the most hilarious story concerns Diego (Leonardo Sbaraglia), a cocksure businessman who flips the bird while driving to a drunken redneck only for his car to break down in the middle of nowhere and the man Mario (Walter Donado) to catch up with him. The result is outrageously brutal, like Wile E Coyote on peyote.
When newlywed Romina (Erica Rivas, pictured) discovers her well-heeled husband has cheated on her with a co-worker, their wedding reception becomes a camp, hysterical exercise in female rage, blood and lots and lots of cake. Turns out revenge is a dish best served with icing.
Wild Tales is an unmissable satire of society on the edge--six absolutely wonderful slices of justice, gripping from start to finish...a crowd-pleaser with brains and cojones.
Director: Damian Szifron. Starring: Rita Cortese, Ricardo Darin,Oscar Martinez,Erica Rivas Argentina/Spain, 2014, 2hr 2mins
At Glasgow Film Theatre, until April 9th
Wild Tales UK trailer - in cinemas & on demand: http://youtu.be/Ee-T0Q5GP6c
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