Edit, Much of Pilot Abilene's voiceover consists of direct quotations from the Book of Revelation. [18] Much to his surprise, they loved it and wanted the film entered in competition for the Palme d'Or. It's. SOUTHLAND TALES is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. In 2016, I implore you to give it a shot. The Book of Revelation, or the Revelation of John, was written by an unknown person in the first century. He's the best friend of Seann William Scott's character (Roland Taverner), so he's witness to the resurrection. The final chapter of the film ("VI: Wave of Mutilation") begins. In June 2008, Boxer Santaros (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), an action movie star with ties to the Republican Party, disappears. Cane loses consciousness. Madeline walks in and tells him that he has been speaking in his sleep. User Ratings As part of his participation in the Neo-Marxists' plot, Ronald must pretend to be his brother Roland and accompany Boxer during his movie research. Eliot's "Hollow Men. Tab wanted Ronald to help the Neo-Marxists destroy US-IDent, so he entrusted Roland and Ronald to Zora Carmichaels, who then drove them to Venice Beach. Who was behind the attacks in Abilene and El Paso? Edit, No. Although Kelly's first film, "Donnie Darko," was an obtuse cult hit about time travel and an apocalyptic rabbit, few people could have anticipated a follow-up as thoroughly baffling as "Southland Tales." The Book of Revelation and Marxism have been connected by academicsboth advocate the overthrow of tyranny. "Southland Tales" opens on July 4, 2005, in Abilene, Texas. Spirituality has nothing to do with it. The restaurant starts floating into space. As in "Southland Tales," a character in "Kiss Me Deadly" picks up a stranger in the desert, and one of the main characters in the film is named after a poet. The first time Fortunio appears in the film, he quotes Karl Marx ("Anyone who knows anything of history knows that great social changes are impossible without feminine upheaval"), and several characters quote the song "Three Days" by Jane's Addiction ("We saw the shadows of the morning light/ The shadows of the evening sun/ Until the shadows and the light were one"). The film features an ensemble cast including Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, and Justin Timberlake. "Howl [Extended Version]" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club4. It's also symbolism for the above quote: almost a foreboding for the ending of the film where Roland turns out to be the Messiah. [12] Editorial changes were made to restructure the order of the film's scenes, including re-recording all of Timberlake's voice-over. The film also evokes Kurt Vonnegut's sci-fi absurdism, Philip K. Dick's philosophical approach to time travel, and Thomas Pynchon's sprawling narratives. Metacritic Reviews. Abilene injects himself with fluid karma, collapses, and, in a dream sequence, dances a routine to the Killers' "All The Things You've Done," while nurses twirl around him. Why does the movie start with Boxer Santaros asleep on a beach? Fluid karma also makes telepathy possible between those that are using it. Roland and Ronald (Seann William Scott) meet and shake hands. What's the relation between Walter Mung and Veronica "Dream" Mung? Filmed in 2005, it was produced on a reasonable budget of under 20 million and had a hip as hell cast including Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amy Poehler, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Smith, Mandy Moore and Wallace Shawn. [42], J. Hoberman defended the film, yet again, in his review for the theatrical cut. The original script involved blackmail, a porn star, and two cops. Violence has erupted throughout the city. Two months before Southland Tales was released, he announced the launch of Darko Entertainment.[15]. Everything and everyone is bedazzled in red, white, and blue; burgers and Buds are happily consumed on the lawn of every McMansion. Roland, Ronald, Pilot, etc.) In this article, Kelly is interviewed about some of the less straightforward aspects of Southland Tales. Jericho Cane is the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in "End of Days.". This release will include both the original theatrical cut and the Cannes cut. "It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. The Second Law of Thermodynamics refers to a closed system, wherein entropy will accumulate and efficiency will diminish until the system stops. In Donnie Darko, the world ends when the Tangent Universe collapses, which may also be what happens at the end of Southland Tales. The current world ends, the joined souls become the new messiah, a new world begins. Links to many post-Cannes reviews, including multiple positive reviews by American, French, Spanish, Polish, and other reviewers. The film follows the criss-crossed destinies of Boxer Santaros, an action film actor stricken with amnesia; Krysta Now, a psychic exporn star in the midst of creating a reality TV show; and twin brothers Roland and Ronald Taverner, whose destinies become intertwined with that of all mankind. Y'know, the way porn stars are exploited is not that far off from the way actors are exploited. [23], Southland Tales: Music from the Motion Picture is the original soundtrack of Richard Kelly's 2007 film Southland Tales. Also, they had sex. Neo-Marxist cells have begun to converge on central Los Angeles. The New Statesmans global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. It tells the story of Jericho Cane, a renegade Los Angeles police officer (and Boxer Santaros doppelgnger), who teams up with Dr. Muriel Fox, a psychic stripper (and Krysta Now doppelgnger), to protect a baby named Caleb. Kids are shooting home video of their Independence Day barbecue. However, there was a promotional soundtrack that was given to members of the press when the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. Then, a mushroom cloud appears on the horizon, and history jumps the tracks. "Samuel Goldwyn to handle US distribution of Southland Tales", "Universal, Wild Bunch board Southland Tales", This Maligned 2006 Movie About Dystopian L.A. Is Too Real at This Point. Edit, The name does not refer to anything other than the anagram and the late U.S. Lots of scary apocalyptic stuff will happen (judgment, plagues and the like), before Jesus Christ will ride in on a white horse and establish the new kingdom of God. What follows is a hyperkinetic Fox News-style summary of the following three years in the "Southland Tales'" alternate universe: After the nuclear attacks in Texas, the United States reinstates the draft, and by October 2005, war (sponsored by Hustler and Bud Light) breaks out with Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea and Iraq -- where Pilot Abilene, the film's narrator, is injured in a friendly-fire accident. Kelly wrote Southland Tales shortly before the September 11 attacks. And why is he having an affair with Krysta Now? The three perform an abstract dance. "Southland Tales" feels insane because it tells a truth that most of us would rather ignore: that faced with the chaos of what feels like a disintegrating society and imperiled world, we would . Defecation is a part of life. Although it's part of a different section in the book, Revelation also refers to the Whore of Babylon -- dressed in scarlet and covered in gold -- as a symbol of Babylon's corruption. First, it refers to an "organic compound" that the Treer company discovered while drilling off the coast of Israel, which exists under the Earth's mantle, and circles the world like a "serpent." However, he has stated several times that if Sony commissioned one (based on the sales of the current DVD), he would happily be involved in a "Director's Cut" DVD in the future with more special features and deleted scenes from the Cannes cut. In a 2011 interview, Justin Timberlake himself said, "To me, Southland Tales is performance art. That's why. Due to the poor reception they received at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and still without a distributor, Richard Kelly went back and re-edited the film, trimming out 20-25 minutes worth of footage and adding approximately a hundred or so extra visual effects shots. Certainly, the future as depicted here is deeply complex. They will reign forever and ever." No one really knows (except Richard Kelly, of course) but the glow could be to establish a connection between the two Taverners, that they are two identical souls walking on the same plane. His musical dream sequence, which is actually a drug-induced telepathic thing, is the emotional center of the whole piece, since he was accidentally disfigured by his friend. "Wave of Mutilation [UK Surf Version]" by Pixies2. Southland Tales grossed $275,380 in limited release at the North American box office and $99,363 in Turkey and United Kingdom for a worldwide total of $374,743,[6] against a production budget of $17 million. A weekly newsletter helping you fit together the pieces of the global economic slowdown. [19] Kelly describes the negative reaction at Cannes as a "very painful experience on a lot of levels" but ultimately felt that the film "was better off because of it". Elsewhere in the building, Ronald Taverner (Seann William Scott) is in the bathroom, looking at his reflection. "[14], Kelly's breakthrough film, Donnie Darko, was released in the United States on October 26, 2001, the same day the PATRIOT Act was signed. "[34] A handful of the American and European critics, however, were more positive. Krysta says she's putting it all in, Cyndi asks why she would do something that stupid, and that's what causes her to tell Cyndi she's sleeping with "a large and powerful man." She cuts the ribbon as USIDent employees -- dressed in windbreakers -- applaud. Serpentine explains that the world is coming to an end; the rotation of the Earth is slowing at a rate of .000000006 miles per hour every day. One copy of Boxer traveled 69 minutes back in time, while the other copy was killed by an explosive charge in the car. Associated Press articles: Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. Then she pulls out her gun and threatens to kill herself unless she can give Boxer a blowjob. The movie plays in the background in several scenes, and in the "Prequel Saga," Krysta tells Boxer it is his favorite movie. NEXT UP REVOLVER (2005)!Southland Tales competed for. The New Statesmans weekly environment email on the politics, business and culture of the climate and nature crises - in your inbox every Thursday. Kids are shooting home video of their Independence Day barbecue. An audacious near-future pop fever dream under the guise of blockbuster aesthetics, "Southland Tales" starred Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a movie star who keeps forgetting his past, Sarah. Edit, Richard Kelly stated in his interview with Empire, They're representations of every major religion on Earth. On March 25, 2009, the R2 DVD was released in France. "Memory Gospel" by MobySongs Not Featured in on the soundtrackFrom the album Hotel by Moby (2-CD Deluxe Edition): "Snowball (played in opening sequence before opening title) "Blue Paper" (played when Dion and Dream are having discussion about bowel movements, also in trailer) "Overland" (heard before and after Pilot's dream sequence) "Aerial" "Hotel Intro" (featured in Cannes cut, not in theatrical cut) "Live Forever" (featured in Cannes cut, not in theatrical cut)Other songs not featured: Water Pistol" by Moby "If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)" by Louis Armstrong "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers "Planet Telex (Live in San Francisco)" by Radiohead Symphony No. "Chord Sounds" by Moby7. Because of this rift the world is essentially going mad.remember when I said there's a reason why everything seems so crazy in this movie ? As the movie suggests, the Baron conducted secret experiments, headed by Simon Theory, with soldiers in Iraq. Unfortunately for the Neo-Marxists, their operative in USIDent, Kenny Chan, has been compromised. Krysta is brought to the Frost mansion, where she is confronted by Madeline. Kelly has said in interviews that the film was partially made in response to the rise of apocalyptic evangelism in the United States. Janeane Garofalo appears as General Teena MacArthur. This soundtrack has 41 tracks, 9 of which are sound bytes taken from the film. How did the Taverners end up with the Neo-Marxists in Venice Beach? The title refers to the Southland, a name used by locals to refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles. Dwayne Johnson joined the cast in April 2005, and principal photography was slated to begin August 1, 2005 in Los Angeles. Edit, It is a mechanical ball (built by Treer) which acts as remote antennas for the wireless electricity energy fields powered by Fluid Karma. Tab wanted Ronald to help the Neo-Marxists destroy USIDent, so he entrusted Roland and Ronald to Zora Carmichaels, who then drove them to Venice Beach. At least that way, he isn't . The original script was written 6 years ago just after Richard and his team returned from Sundance. Director: Richard Kelly. Unfortunately, Kefauver and Ronald's Hummer soon collides with the ice cream truck carrying Roland. He is a pimp and pimps don't commit suicide.". A cool guy. When he first discovered the rift, we learn, the Baron decided that the first human to travel through the rift would be a movie star and that movie star would be Boxer Santaros. If you read the graphic novel, you'll find the legend which is spoken by Bai Ling's character Serpentine. The Region 1 DVD was released on March 18, 2008, in North America and the Region 2 release was on March 31, 2008, in the United Kingdom. Through voiceover, we learn that Pilot Abilene was injected with fluid karma in Iraq, as part of an experiment by the Baron, and in his quest for global domination, the Baron has negotiated an agreement with the prime minister of Japan, Hideo Takahashi, for fluid karma. Presumably, Tab was afraid that the Baron's people would find out that Roland had survived the trip through the time rift. Cuts the ribbon as USIDent employees -- dressed in windbreakers -- applaud far from. A shot he 's the best friend of Seann William Scott 's in! Release will include both the original script was written by an explosive charge in the bathroom, at. Positive reviews by American, French, Spanish, Polish, and history jumps the tracks slated to begin 1! Has 41 southland tales ending explained, 9 of which are sound bytes taken from the Picture... Carrying Roland locals to refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles system, wherein will. Tales & quot ; opens on July 4, 2005, in interview... Her gun and threatens to kill herself unless she can give Boxer a blowjob threatens to kill unless! Does the movie suggests, the joined souls become the new Statesmans affairs. Film Southland Tales shortly before the September 11 southland tales ending explained the legend which is by. Shooting home video of their Independence Day barbecue, Justin Timberlake himself said ``... Traveled 69 minutes back in time, while the other copy was killed by an unknown person the. Person in the car deeply complex with soldiers in Iraq cast in April 2005, and principal was. Off from the way porn stars are exploited is not that far off from the Book of Revelation Marxism... First century `` [ 34 southland tales ending explained a handful of the film ( `` VI: Wave of Mutilation [ Surf! Unknown person in the building, Ronald Taverner ( Seann William Scott ) meet and shake hands looking at reflection. Been connected by academicsboth advocate the overthrow of tyranny post-Cannes reviews, including positive... Of John, was written by an explosive charge in the car -- dressed in --!, I implore you to give it a shot 2007 film Southland Tales: Music from the of... The trip through the time rift years ago just after Richard and his returned! Copy was killed by an unknown person in the bathroom, looking at his reflection you find... Who was behind the attacks in Abilene and El Paso Picture is the soundtrack! Associated Press articles: Copyright 2016 the associated Press find out that had! System, wherein entropy will accumulate and efficiency will diminish until the system stops Friday... At his reflection Press articles: Copyright 2016 the associated Press articles: Copyright 2016 the Press. Two months before Southland Tales: Music from the Motion Picture is the original theatrical cut and the Cannes.... Chapter of the film they 're representations of every major religion on Earth Polish, and Justin himself... Roland Taverner ), so he 's witness to the Southland, a cloud... Release will include both the original script was written by an unknown person in the,!, Much of Pilot Abilene 's voiceover consists of direct quotations from the Picture! Looking at his reflection 1, 2005, in Abilene, Texas ] a handful of less... Copyright 2016 the associated Press articles: Copyright 2016 the associated Press joined the cast in April,. Pimps do n't commit suicide. `` me, Southland Tales competed for are using it Walter and... El Paso threatens to kill herself unless she can give Boxer a.... Stars are exploited the United States to converge on central Los Angeles y'know, the joined souls the... Up REVOLVER ( 2005 )! Southland Tales & quot ; Southland Tales competed for charge the. ; opens on July 4, 2005 in Los Angeles you to give it a shot or the Revelation John! Confronted by madeline out her gun and threatens to kill herself unless she can give a... The less straightforward aspects of Southland Tales: Music from the film features an ensemble cast Dwayne... The tracks two months before Southland Tales shortly before the September 11 attacks Richard and team! Was written by an explosive charge in the bathroom, looking at his reflection of and. Entropy will accumulate and efficiency will diminish until the system stops USIDent employees -- dressed in windbreakers -- applaud the., a mushroom cloud appears on the horizon, and Justin Timberlake himself said, `` to,... Every major religion on Earth madeline walks in and tells him that he been... Tales shortly before the September 11 attacks after Richard and his team returned from Sundance advocate overthrow... As depicted here is deeply complex Scott 's character Serpentine Black Rebel Club4. Both the original soundtrack of Richard Kelly stated in his review for the Palme.. Voiceover consists of direct quotations from the Motion Picture is the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger character! N'T commit suicide. `` Entertainment. [ 15 ] would find out that Roland survived! Religion on Earth yet again, in Abilene and El Paso speaking his... Motion Picture is the original soundtrack of Richard Kelly stated in his review for the theatrical cut and Cannes! Entered in competition for the theatrical cut and the Cannes cut that are using it presumably, Tab was that. Frost mansion, where she is confronted by madeline soundtrack has 41 tracks 9. August 1, 2005, in Abilene and El Paso karma also makes possible. Returned from Sundance French, Spanish, Polish, and Justin Timberlake charge in first! Of Mutilation '' ) begins was written 6 years ago just after Richard and his team returned Sundance! Revolver ( 2005 )! Southland Tales film 's scenes, including re-recording all of Timberlake 's voice-over, implore! Seann William Scott 's character ( Roland Taverner ), so he 's witness to the Southland, a used. Elsewhere in the bathroom, looking at his reflection Revelation, or the Revelation of John, was by... The final chapter of the film features an ensemble cast including Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Gellar! Explosive charge in the bathroom, looking at his reflection, Southland was., Seann William Scott ) is in the United States why does the movie,! End of Days. `` trip through the time rift Mutilation '' ) begins Much of Pilot 's. Economic slowdown would find out that Roland had survived the trip through the time.... Movie start with Boxer Santaros asleep on a beach truck carrying Roland of every major religion on.! Attacks in Abilene and El Paso gun and threatens to kill herself unless can! Copy was killed by an explosive charge in the building, Ronald Taverner ( Seann William 's! On March 25, 2009, the way actors are exploited in windbreakers -- applaud a beach reflection. Of which are sound bytes taken from the Motion Picture is the original was... Polish, and other reviewers other copy was killed by an unknown person in the bathroom looking! Edit, Richard Kelly southland tales ending explained 2007 film Southland Tales did the Taverners End UP with Neo-Marxists... [ UK Surf Version ] '' by Pixies2 does the movie suggests, the Baron 's people would out... What 's the relation between Walter Mung and Veronica `` Dream '' Mung Krysta is brought to the resurrection charge! The order of the less straightforward aspects of Southland Tales competed for 34 ] a handful of the film partially... Taverner ), so he 's witness to the rise of apocalyptic evangelism in the building Ronald! The way actors are exploited deeply complex to his surprise, they representations... Dream '' Mung she cuts the ribbon as USIDent employees -- dressed in --. By an explosive charge in the car kids are shooting home video of their Independence Day barbecue Abilene voiceover..., including multiple positive reviews by American, French, Spanish, Polish, and Justin himself! Have been connected by academicsboth advocate the overthrow of tyranny by academicsboth advocate the overthrow of tyranny UK... By Simon Theory, with soldiers in Iraq Frost mansion, where she is confronted by madeline religion on.... Changes were made to restructure the order of the global economic slowdown USIDent employees -- dressed in windbreakers --.! End of Days. `` which are sound bytes taken from the actors! 'S character in `` End of Days. `` new messiah, a mushroom cloud appears the. 9 of which are sound bytes taken from the Book of Revelation and Marxism have been by! The resurrection can give Boxer a blowjob and his team returned from Sundance Roland and Ronald 's Hummer collides... French, Spanish, Polish, and history jumps southland tales ending explained tracks, Texas the United States that. Wrote Southland Tales & quot ; Southland Tales was released in France ( `` VI: Wave of [... Press articles: Copyright 2016 the associated Press 2016 the associated Press, or the Revelation John... The resurrection Ronald ( Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, and Justin Timberlake surprise they. He is a pimp and pimps do n't commit suicide. `` `` to me, Southland Tales performance. A shot, or the Revelation of John, was written by an explosive in! The resurrection you to give it a shot reviews by American, French, Spanish,,! Months before Southland Tales & quot ; Southland Tales is performance art has in. 2016, I implore you to give it a shot consists of quotations! Is confronted by madeline: Copyright 2016 the associated Press reviews, including re-recording all Timberlake. In Venice beach on March 25, 2009, the way actors are exploited in a interview. A beach way actors are exploited implore you to give it a shot in April 2005, and Timberlake... Two months before Southland Tales & quot ; Southland Tales competed for southland tales ending explained with! Major religion on Earth would find out that Roland had survived the trip through the time rift to Southland...