WONDERLAND
2003 -- R -- 104 mins
Directed by James Cox. Screenplay by James Cox, Captain Mauzner, Todd Samovitz and D. Loriston Scott.
Val Kilmer: John Holmes
Kate Bosworth:
Dawn Schiller
Dylan McDermott: David Lind
Lisa Kudrow: Sharon Holmes
Josh Lucas: Ron Launuis
Tim Blake Nelson: Billy Deverell
Christina Applegate:
Susan Launius
Ted Levine: Sam Nico
Eric Bogosian: Eddie Nash
Carrie Fisher: Sally Hansen
Franky G: Louis
M.C. Gainey: Billy Ward
Janeane Garofalo: Joy Miller
Faizon Love: Greg Diles
Natasha Gregson Wagner: Barbara Richardson
Paris Hilton: Barbie
PLOT SYNOPSIS:
In 1981, LA's Wonderland Avenue was rocked by four brutal homicides, and a fifth person was in a state of near-death as a result of the attack. The victims were a circle of drug abusers, and the following police investigation connected them to several key suspects. John Holmes (Kilmer) was a legendary actor in the porn movie industry, but his drug addiction caused his life to spiral out of control, and the police believe he betrayed them to powerful club nightclub owner and criminal Eddie Nash (Bogosian). It's through the interviews with biker/junkie David Lind (McDermott), who was part of the group but not present for the murders, that the cops learn of Holmes involvement, and the ruthless revenge sought by Nash after being robbed by the crew.
JANEANES CHARACTER:
This is a curious, and ultimately very frustrating, role for Janeane. As one of the inner circle of Holmes' junkie pals, she does pop up quite a lot in the film. Alas, she's given absolutely nothing to do. What's more, she barely gets shown in close up. Her Joy is always around, but it's mostly in the back round and out of focus, or briefly glimpsed on the couch as the camera cuts between the male characters. Joy ends up being bashed to death (half-seen in shadows and frantic editing), and we learn that the character had breast cancer which resulted in both breasts being removed, but otherwise there's nothing for Janeane to do, and nothing for fans to see...thus the lack of any video captures at the bottom of the page.
MY REVIEW:
**1/2
Wonderland is a true story, and the events surrounding the murders are indeed quite compelling. But unfortunately the film comes across as less than satisfying because of two key problems; Firstly, the film is supposed to be about Holmes, and how he fitted into the Wonderland Ave slaughter, along with what happened to him during the police investigation. Yet the movie never actually tells us anything Holmes himself. We see nothing of his past or...career activities...and never find out what is in his head to make him do what he does. What little we know about him comes from the relationships with the two most important women in his life: his young companion and fellow junkie Dawn (Bosworth), and his estranged ex-wife Sharon (Kudrow). It's actually with these two ladies where the film has it's most interesting aspect...Sharon has distain for John and his lifestyle, yet has a surprisingly strong bond with Dawn. Although it's not really discussed, you get the feeling that Sharon understands what Dawn goes through with John, and hopes to give her advice and support based on her own experience.
Director/co-scripted Cox's approach to the material is too flashy and bombastic. It's clear he wants this to be a hip and slick, and in the vein of Ted Demme's Blow and Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights. Cox can't resist drowning the movie will popular songs of the 70s seemingly ever few frames. Although these songs are great, and would make for a hell of a soundtrack, to me it comes across as a rather lazy way of setting time and place. What's more, this movie is set in 1981, so some of the song choices seem a little inappropriate. Cox also throws in all kinds of visual tricks, such as a counter in the corner of the screen that indicates how much Lind and company stole from Nash. This kinda thing does work in some movies, but here it just highlights that Cox was more concerned with making a visual movie instead of a character driven one.
What does work with Wonderland is generous array of solid performances. Kilmer, considering he really isn't given that much to work with, has a few scenes where he really delivers the dramatic goods as he comes to understand that his life has turned to shit. Kilmer has been trapped in B-hell for years now with stuff like Hard Cash and The Salton Sea, so this is at least a step up. The best performance of the entire film comes from Kudrow, who reminds me again that she has the most range of all the Friends cast. Kudrow, sporting some brilliantly subtle makeup work, gives an emotionally damaged performance as a woman who hates everything Holmes has choosen for himself, yet finds it impossible to separate herself from him entirely. She's truly fantastic here. Rising starlet Bosworth is sympathetic and sweetly innocent, although we never see what's beneath her surface. An almost unrecognizable McDermott dominates the first third of the film himself as the gun wielding biker Lind, and does a pretty solid job throughout. Josh (A Beautiful Mind) Lucas gives a pretty chilling showing as crackhead/borderline lunatic Ron Launuis, although I never quite brought Bogosian as Arab scumbag Nash...he seems almost a caricature. I personally liked Levine as lead the cop on the case, and it's a role you've seen him many times successfully (such as in Heat and in the delightful TV series Monk). Familiar hillbilly-ish actor MC Gainey (Breakdown, Con-Air) is effectively cast against type against a friendly lawyer. Christina Applegate suffers the same fate as Janeane...back ground girlfriend, and Carrie Fisher's part is just a pointless pre-credits gag. And yes, Paris Hilton appears for a few seconds as a chick called Barbie. That makes total sense to me.
SORRY...NO VIDCAPS HERE...FILM REALLY HAD NOTHING I COULD USE!