This Special Edition Blu-ray release from Arrow Academy will be available for purchase (www.arrowvideo.com – www.facebook.com/ArrowVideo/) on August 14th.
Sometimes being ahead of the curve has its drawbacks. The films of director Terry Gilliam had developed a fervent following, although it has often taken a great deal of time for many to recognize his work as exceptional (at least when it comes to the filmmaker’s more eccentric pieces). One of his more challenging flicks was Tideland, a relatively low-budget effort that followed right on the heels of a studio picture. A few critics did praise it, but most despised the feature, calling it grotesque, horrific, disastrous and potentially career-ending.
The movie barely earned a theatrical release in North America, playing in a grand total of nine theaters. Events were further hampered by a DVD released that incorrectly framed the film at the wrong aspect ratio. For many years, this was the only version available, not just in North America but in all regions of the world, with the exception of the UK and Germany. This was yet another strike against the movie finding its audience. Thankfully, Arrow Video are debuting the movie in high definition on Blu-ray with numerous bonuses, finally allowing viewers to decide if the initial critical reactions were right or completely off base.
This particular reviewer missed the movie during its original run (it disappeared from cinemas before I could get the opportunity to check it out) and the disc issues dissuaded me from catching up with it on DVD. So upon seeing it for the first time looking so crisp and beautiful, it does come as something of a revelation. Those who hate it will likely still feel the same way about it. There can be no doubt that the movie will push the buttons of some viewers. However, as a newbie I was greatly impressed by the feature and personally think it is deserving of a major reappraisal.
Jeliza-Rose (Jodelle Ferland) is around 10 years in age and living a less-than-ideal life. Her musician father Noah (Jeff Bridges) is a heroin addict and her mother Queen Gunhilda (Jennifer Tilly) is far from an endearing parental figure. After a death in the family, the girl is ushered away to the country home of Noah’s mother. Sadly for Jeliza-Rose, things don’t improve. In order to deal with the disturbing ordeal, she retreats into a fantasy world and spends most of her time conversing with four severed doll heads. After more tragedy, the youngster encounters an equally unhinged neighbor in the form of Dell (Janet McTeer) and her intellectually disabled brother, Dickens (Brendan Fletcher). Despite Jeliza-Rose’s lengthy forays into dreamscapes, reality is always on the verge of rearing its ugly head, resulting in unsettling events and danger.
The source material is perfect for the director and despite the limited funds (the budget is listed at $12 million, significantly less than many of his other films), the feature looks stunning. It’s gorgeously shot with wide angle lenses that not only capture the beautiful locations but also emphasize the surreal, imagined environments. There are numerous overhead angles and Dutch tilts used that really allow the odd elements to stand out and make an impression. Even simple transitions, like a bus passing under a bridge, are filmed creatively, adding plenty for the eyes to feast on.
However, the most impressive aspect may be the cast. The entire movie rests on the shoulders of a child, and lead Ferland always manages to pull it off, along with the help of Gilliam’s crazy angles and shot selection. Equally incredible is Fletcher, who handles the Dickens character brilliantly. There isn’t a false note or moment in the film that you don’t completely believe in the character and his condition. All of the performers are convincing and their characters imperfect, adding some tension and texture to their interactions.
This is likely where the movie’s haters have problems. The story is told through the girl’s point-of-view and involves her dealing with many adult issues at a very young age. This includes mixing heroin for her addict dad as well as making innocent-though-potentially-dangerous advances towards Dickens in the dreams of making him her boyfriend. Dickens’ own instability and unpredictability add a further element of nervousness to the proceedings. And some the film’s dark events are incredibly gruesome, which no doubt will upset more sensitive viewers. This, coupled with some surreal and at times humorous imagery of the youngster dealing with these trials may have turned many off.
However, this reviewer was never anything but impressed by the film. The point-of-view of an innocent child being introduced to some adult horrors and the course of dealing with them in her own very unique way, as presented, is nothing short of fascinating. And while incredibly dark, some of the grim comic gags are incredibly funny. There’s also some amusing quirkiness in the actions of a talking squirrel who eventually gives the girl important advice.
Another plus is the subtext. The movie is never blunt or obvious in its intent, but there are plenty of ideas to chew on here. In many respects Jeliza-Rose’s home life is about as dysfunctional as it gets and her attempts at creating new support groups with imaginary dolls as well as with a surrogate clan present some interesting views of family broods. While its lead is strong and resilient, it doesn’t seem as if the source material has a lot that is positive to say about how many family units function.
As mentioned previously, the movie’s image quality is incredible. The exteriors look impressive, and the interiors featuring all sorts of wild and in some cases disturbing imagery are reproduced from the film source with the highest quality. Additionally, the extras are fantastic. They included a 45 minute documentary made by director Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice and the Hannibal TV-series) investigates the filmmaker’s techniques. Natali admits he’s curious to see if Gilliam, noted for his numerous troubled productions, might be at least in part responsible for his own conflicts. It’s informative and insightful and pretty much puts to rest the idea of the director sabotaging his own productions.
The movie comes with an introduction from Gilliam which reemphasizes the film’s point-of-view and how it was intended to be read. A commentary track with the director and co-screenwriter also provide plenty of curious details about the production. The audio was also recorded some time after its initial release, allowing the pair to discuss the intense and extreme reactions to the film and what they believe some of the detractors may have been offended by offering counterpoints that some critics might have missed the first time round. Again, this recording is highly entertaining. Additionally, the disc has deleted scenes and green screen takes with commentary, as well as an archived making-of featurette and interviews with the cast and crew. There’s also some B-roll footage from the location shoot and loads of publicity materials. Even the booklet contains an essay on the movie. In all, the disc is jam-packed with bonuses.
While a few Gilliam films like The Fisher King (1991) and 12 Monkeys (1995) earned accolades immediately upon their release, many have initially earned harsh words. I remember the brilliant Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) making several worst-of-the-year lists during its original release. Brazil (1985) caused a battle between the film and the studio after they were disturbed with the bleak ending and some of the themes present in the film. As a result, the movie took time to find its fan base. This may happen again with The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018); legal disputes over the rights have posed distribution problems for the film in the US (let’s hope that can all be settled soon).
In the meantime, Tideland is a great way to catch up on a lesser known feature from the director. It may not be for everyone, but it is incredibly well-acted, visually overwhelming and offers plenty of subtext to keep one thinking and mulling over long after the finale. The movie is extremely impressive in its own right… this reviewer thought that it was actually pretty great. It is wonderful to see Arrow Video Blu-ray of the film look so fantastic. For fans of the director, it’s a must own.