Lost River (2014)
Actor Ryan Gosling makes his directorial debut with this haunting film that plays like an adult fairy tale much reminiscent of David Lynch and Nicolas Winding Refn. It's not surprising it has the look and feel of Refn as he was probably Gosling's muse and chief influence.
The film centers on financially strapped mother, Christina Hendricks, who is offered a job in a club, by her bank manager!?, where acts involving torture and mutilation top the bill. Meanwhile her quiet unassuming son (Iain De Caestecker) just wants to get on with his existence and a blossoming romance with the delightfully named Rat, (Saoirse Ronan) which brings him to the attention of a local nut job (Matt Smith) who runs their practically no-go neighbourhood after dark.
Gosling's film is certainly interesting, visually it's fascinating and keeps you watching over the 90 minutes, however it's also challenging viewing but mainly down to it's lack of focus and narrative structure. It's the Lynchian Twin Peaks aspects of the nightmarish club and the night time world that come over the more stimulating but it's lack of coherence lingers longer in the memory than anything else on screen.
Where Gosling's film certainly does work is in the performances. For a first time director he brings together a terrific list of actors. Hendricks is excellent. (Her face peeling stage act is harrowing viewing), Ronan is ever watchable, as is Eva Mendes. Gosling also brings out a terrific scenery chewing performance from Matt Smith who is as far away from his Doctor Who role as could be imagined.
Lost River comes across as a bit of a missed opportunity and too much like it's influences, having said that it is one that was interesting enough to demand a re-view in the future.
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