Rumours – Film Review
by Fran Winston

Directors – Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, Guy Maddin
Writers – Evan Johnson, Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson
Stars – Cate Blanchett, Rolando Ravello, Charles Dance

In cinemas on December 6

This is a difficult film to categorise. Depending on where you get your information, it is described as everything from a comedy-drama to an apocalyptic horror to an absurdist drama and everything in between. The fact that it also has three directors means that there are many visions happening in this movie.

The star-studded cast plays world leaders who are meeting at the G7 summit. As always seems the way with politicians they disagree about a joint statement they are trying to compose. We never find out what it is about but it is apparently a global crisis so that could mean pretty much anything happening in the world.

Their efforts are interrupted when things begin to get weird, and they are terrorised by long-dead bog bodies and a giant brain with its own agenda.

Yes, it is all a bit odd. However, the award-winning actors never indicate this and play it like Hamlet. There are plenty of wordy scenes which give them a chance to showcase their craft. The supernatural/sci-fi elements do appear a bit cheesy and cliched (there is even fog!) but serve the purpose of showing how helpless these supposedly great people are.

The metaphor is laid on extremely thick and some of the monologues about the crisis they are trying to agree on are only saved by the delivery as they drone on about the issues at hand. It is a one-trick pony and that trick is dragged out. It is the kind of film you feel you should like but are unsure if you do. There are so many different elements it requires full concentration and possibly a second viewing as it is a lot to take in on one sitting.