"Gerry"

Gerry (2003): 5/10

Poster (c) Miramax Films

I've often thought about what I would make a feature length picture like. I'd make it something groundbreaking, something away from the mold of what everyone else does. That's what Gus Van Sant does in Gerry, his love-it-or-hate-it movie that definitely is love-it-or-hate-it. Usually with those types of movies, I end up liking them, and no more (such as 25th Hour). That's not the case with Gerry, a movie that has its heart in the right place, but can't get to its goal without boring the hell out of its audience. You wouldn't be able to make this movie without boredom, but that doesn't mean it redeems itself.

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are two friends named Gerry who take a hike in the desert. After a great opening scene (I wouldn't have minded if the whole movie was just the car driving-it was done beautifully), they soon get lost. Then they rarely talk and try to find their way back to the car. Among the way, they get trapped on rocks, lose each other, see mirages, and substitute the word "Gerry" for every other word. Doesn't get much odder than that.

This movie intrigued me because it's just so different. I had heard that this movie had little (mostly improvised) dialogue and was widely considered to be boring. They were right. There are so many shots of just the Gerrys walking around that it's impossible to not be bored. The scenery was beautiful to look at, but when there's nothing happening on screen, then it's rather futile to look at it, as it's all the same. The "adventures" that happen to the Gerrys also aren't a thrill-a-minute, but then again, this is supposed to be a realistic movie.

But, as I also said before, a movie that's going for its goal of being different like this is. Gerry's going for something landmark, and it succeeded. It's going for a minimilist atmosphere here, and it works for what it was trying to achieve. But all I can say is what I've been reiterating for this whole review: it's a good concept (like communism) but can't do anything to make it work.

Rated R for language.

Review Date: June 11, 2004