The Fall: A Movie Review

"The Fall" which has recently been released onto DVD and Blue Ray formats, is Directed by Tarsem Singh, and its heavy use of visuals drives the story onwards. Tarsem Singh will be remembered for his work on "The Cell" starring Jennifer Lopez. As well, a producer from "The Cell" Nick Soultanakis takes on screenplay duty with another relative unknown, Dan Gilroy. So, with two creators from "The Cell" it opens up the possibility that this will be an artistically focused film. The main cast were gathered from a relatively unknown group of actors; for Catinca Untaru this is her first acting film. The story is told as a fairy tale for Alexandria and as a romantic tale for Roy, the main characters in the movie.

This picture was filmed mostly in Capetown for the hospital scenes and in twenty -seven other locations. The cinematographer, Colin Watkinson, chose a diversified series of locations to film this feature. Everything from Hollywood to India is displayed as a backdrop in this film and the many desert landscapes highlight the dream-like feel of this film. "The Fall" is seen through Alexandria's imagination and the beautiful colours and textures emphasize her fantasy. The director utilized contrasting landscapes to add to the visual appeal of the film. Although, several shots seen in the final third of the film appear to use computer enhancement, no special effects where used in the movie.

Roy's brokenness comes out over the course of "The Fall" and Alexandria's childlike curiosity is what saves the story. Most viewers will feel nostalgia during the imaginative portions of the film. In addition, Roy's character will excite some hatred in viewers and empathy in others. Either way this film will most likely be enjoyed by most viewers.