(1990)
2.5
Craig Butler
Guy Maddin's films are generally like no other's, and Archangel is no exception. Those who are "in" on the Maddin cult are likely to get the most out of Archangel, although even loyalists may find it not as interesting as some of his other pieces. Those outside the cult are likely to be mostly confused and probably a bit bored. There's a reason for these last reactions: Archangel is very repetitive and dense (hence the boredom), and it is designed to be obscure (hence the confusion). As an intellectual exercise, Archangel has some fascination: the characters are vague about their lives, due to damages they have sustained that affect their memory. The film effectively mirrors this, creating a vagueness and a sense of loss and confusion in the viewers. But this wears thin after a while. On the plus side, however, Maddin has given Archangel a stunning visual look, shooting it to appear as if it were an old, worn silent film, and he uses intertitles and clearly dubbed dialogue to contribute to the feeling of an old "lost" film having been rediscovered. And, of course, the surreal is part of Maddin's reality, and he plays this card effectively. In the end, Archangel is a lesser Maddin work, but one that devotees will definitely want to see.
awards for Archangel on AllMovie
Archangel (1990)
Telluride Film Festival
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Presented |
Film Presented
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1990 |
