Holes (2003)
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| Holes (2003) |
| Written
by Louis Sachar (Based on his book) / Directed by Andrew Davis |
| Review by Alex Mestas 4/19/2003 |
| More info: Holes |
It's about a bunch of troubled adolescents sent to Camp Green lake, a dusty expanse of lake-less desert, where they are forced to dig at least one hole a day. This is supposed to build character, but of course, there's something else afoot. The heads of the camp are seeking...something... and they won't tell the kids what. It's no wonder that Holes the book is so popular among kids. It features a group of angry, clueless adults that soon receive their comeuppance. It's a theme running through the good films for young people of late. Like Spy Kids, these kids know better than most people. They certainly know better than the camp leaders, gruff people played by veteran actors. Sigourney Weaver, Tim Blake Nelson and Jon Voight are all at their slimy best. And amazingly enough, the bad eye job of Jon Voight actually works here. His squinty look and Texas drawl are creepily effective as the Camp Green Lake enforcer, a fellow more scary than most movie heavies. The cast of young actors is a talented and mesmerizing bunch but especially noteworthy is Shia LaBeouf as Stanley Yelnats. He's a talented young comedic actor with a natural delivery and a definite place as a unique comedy talent. He's shown as much during is popular (and I must say funny) Disney show Even Stevens. The rest of the young cast is talented too. There isn't a false note in the whole movie.
The direction and the tone are very reminiscent of the direction and films of Sam Raimi and the Coen Brothers. From the wacky plot points, to the quick switches of tone to the inventive camera angles, the film pays as much homage to films like Evil Dead and Blood Simple, as it does The Searchers. Holes is a dusty, complex rumination, often jumping back and forth between historical western and modern morality tale. It even touches on issues that most "kiddy" films wouldn't touch with a ten foot shovel - interracial love, hatred. And it does so in an unflinching manner that's not afraid to explore the gray areas of life, love and death. There's no easy answers and things aren't always as cut and dry as they appear. Not everything is resolved in tight little packages. Heroes kill people, innocents die and people knowingly take their own lives. Holes is an instant classic that's as interesting to adults as it is to children. Movie Grade: A
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