'R Xmas

Abel Ferrara wishing a happy Crackmas to all, and to all a crack pipe.

Slighter than The Blackout and New Rose Hotel, but still odd and beautiful and with surprisingly terrific performances from de Matteo and Brancato. Maybe not that surprising for de Matteo, I always liked her. Anyway, really good.

A film of interesting juxtapositions, not only that of scenes of merry family time casually slipping into scenes of drug dealing preparation, but also how audacious the impressive cinematography can be against what is a muted and understated film. A slow burner with some very good performances (and a cute child one), I'll likely see this again next Christmas (mainly for the terrific Christmas songs in the score).

(Viewed on 27/12/10): 'R Xmas continued Ferrara's post-Funeral decline and his increasing reliance on thin premises stretched to breaking point. The game plan at this stage was to rely more on formal technique and improvisation. While this approach worked somewhat with New Rose Hotel, the seams were showing by 'R Xmas', which feels more slight than subtle. Matteo is very good as the desperate wife, but Ferrara's formal skills are not nearly advanced enough to conceal its narrative shortcomings.

Star Rating: ★★★

What makes this a great humanist Christmas film is the way Ferrara gently conducts the camera into the lives of people -- Wife, Husband, Kidnapper -- who are trying to make it in the big city. There is this Dominican who packs cocaine while talks about his daughter's gift -- a doll --, his naive but brave wife that tries to raise money to save him, and the rival criminal -- a dirty cop -- who wants him out of business and extorts him. There is no motivation -- only pure, urgent, dangerous life.

"Ferrara directs the entire film with the kind of detachment that makes any given frame look like a family's custom-made Christmas card." - Ed Gonzalez