A DARK FILM FOR DARK TIMES: a review of "Watchmen"

Originally written March 7, 2009

"WATCHMEN" Directed by Zack Snyder
**** (4 stars)

In the advertisements for "Watchmen," the audience is reminded that the book, written and illustrated by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is "the most celebrated graphic novel of all time." This is no hyperbole. "Watchmen" produced a seismic shift in the art form when it was published in 1986 through its dense and dizzying narrative and its impact continues to loom large over pop-culture as we can see the effects, not simply in graphic novels produced since (i.e. "Maus," "Sin City," "Ronin," "The Sandman"), but in movies and television programs such as "Unbreakable," "Lost," "Heroes," and "The Incredibles." Even "The Dark Knight" plus the graphic novels that inspired last year's show-stopper owe an endless debt to the joint creation of Moore and Gibbons.

It has long been perceived that this work would be unfilmmable as directors no less than Terry Gilliam ("Time Bandits," "Brazil," "12 Monkeys," "The Fisher King") and Darren Aranofsky ("Requiem For A Dream," "The Wrestler") have attempted to capture this story on film but walked away from the prospect. It is a tremendously tall order as "Watchmen" tells a grim comic book tale set in an alternate 1985 where Nixon is in his fifth term as President after winning the Vietnam war, masked crime fighters have been outlawed and the nuclear tension between the United States and Russia has reached to such feverish levels that the Doomsday Clock has been set to "five minutes until midnight"-the moment of nuclear holocaust. The plot provides a springboard for a myriad of themes including the tension between utopia and dystopia, a philosophical treatise on time and consciousness as well as the deconstruction of the entire superhero mythology. "Watchmen" is a big beast of a story and for some strange reason Director Zack Snyder (of last year's "300") decided to try his hand and surprisingly he succeeds with a dark film for a dark time that simultaneously honors the source material and works on its own terms.

The film begins with the murder of The Comedian (a terrifically gruff Jeffrey Dean Morgan) by an unknown assailant. Hot on the trail is Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), an alienated rage filled sociopathic masked (complete with constantly shape-shifting Rorschach symbols) vigilante who is convinced a plot is underway to murder all of the surviving former superheroes, which include:

-Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson), who now resides in solitary retirement with only his crime fighting toys and memories of his heroic past as company. He now flabby, emasculated and impotent.

-Ozymandias (Matthew Goode), known to all as "the smartest man on the planet," and currently working to solve the energy crisis which would then hope to cease the impending nuclear destruction.

-Silk Spectre II (Malin Ackerman), the token female team member/public sexual fetish object who is also the daughter of the original Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino) who was once almost raped by The Comedian.

-Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), the only team member with super-powers which resulted from a tragic accident with nuclear energy. After being used by the United States government as a weapon against the Viet Cong, Dr. Manhattan has begun his evolution into a higher consciousness, which results in an extended period of solitude on the surface of Mars and an inner disconnection with humanity itself.

With all of this then add childhood traumas and repressed memories, back stories within back stories, future visions, the profound theme of trading one fear for another to attain a peaceful society, then filter it through eye-popping visuals and grisly violence you have enough material for several movies. It is a wonder that Snyder was able to streamline the graphic novel's narrative without losing the focus or substance.

Each frame is filled to the brim with visual details that brilliantly mirror the comic and Snyder's consistent usage of his dream/nightmare styled slow motion is highly effective and for me, never felt over-used. It is a visual and thematic wonder to lose yourself in and ponder long after you have left the theater.

"Watchmen" is not an immediate experience. It doesn't have the visceral emotion of "The Dark Knight." Much like Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan pastiche, "I'm Not There" or Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood," this is a film that might be a few steps ahead of other films due to the amount of material hurled at the viewer for nearly three hours. It is impossible to take it all in during one sitting and it demands a second viewing.

Billy Crudup gives a striking performance as the blue skinned (and very well endowed) Dr. Manhattan. His evolving detachment from the human race is oddly touching as he cannot comprehend man's inhumanity for one moment longer. Ozymandias, The Comedian and Rorschach have also retreated from humanity to varying degrees for the same reasons yet it is Dr. Manhattan's strive for oneness with the cosmic that makes for a compelling spiritual journey.

Jackie Earle Haley is outstanding as Rorschach and it is a marvel to watch him inhabit some deeply disturbing corners (his previous role was the pedophile in "Little Children") as I remember his child actor past with "The Bad News Bears" and the always brilliant "Breaking Away." With his wiry frame, Clint Eastwood growl and almost demonically unforgiving demeanor, Haley is a gripping sight and you cannot take your eyes off of him even when his actions are horrific. The mark he makes without the use of his eyes or face for most of his screen time is remarkable and calls to mind the "faceless" performances of Hugo Weaving in "V For Vendetta" and even Tom Cruise in "Vanilla Sky."

If there were any slight drawbacks I would have to say there was the performance of Malin Ackerman as Silk Spectre II. She is a stunning sight (!!) and she is quite convincing in her physical performance during the action sequences--you do believe that she can deliver a powerful punch. But with her slightly nasally, "Drew Barrymore" voice, her line readings come off a tad stiff and since she has major screen time and many dramatic moments to play, I don't think she quite hit all of the notes. But, in her defense, maybe this is quite possibly how the character should be played. As she is the daughter of the original super heroine, there is a "let's play dress up" quality to Silk Spectre II and Ackerman handles this aspect very well. While she ultimately didn't derail the movie by any means, I have this feeling you needed someone with stronger acting chops and not someone who could fill out the latex suit.

And while I am praising the movie for juggling as many themes as it does, there were moments where I felt a little over-stuffed because books are books and movies are movies. With the book, time is in the hands of the reader. With a movie, time is in the hands of each flickering frame and the speed in which each viewer processes. The passages with Dr. Manhattan reward revisiting as they all deal with the relativity of time and still the film version has to hurtle along and complete the adjacent narratives.

Even so, there has been a question of relevance since "Watchmen" is a product of the 1980's and played off the real Cold War with Russia and nuclear fears many Americans shouldered. But, I do think this film works for our current times. With our economic disasters, fears of terrorism, and two on-going wars, the concepts presented in this film are more relevant than ever. And while the tone of this tale gets darker and darker, and some unthinkable events occur, love exists and emerges and hope remains. With our very real dark times in front of us and hard struggles ahead, we need to hold onto all good things that emerge to help them remain in our world. "Watchmen" left me with those feelings and I am looking forward to seeing it a second time.

This is a challenging, demanding epic that is worth every minute you put into it but be prepared...it is a rough ride.