Domino

Tony Scott seems to have develped this kind of manic, everything-including-the-kitchen-sink, uber style that has a way of either attracting or repelling an audience (sometimes both at the same time), that is if it isn't sending them into seizures. That said, his latest film isn't bad -- it's not especially good, but what it does have in abundance is energy and interestingness (if that's a word). Much of that, I suspect, is thanks to Richard Kelly's script which takes more than a few liberties with the life of real bounty hunter, Domino Harvey, who by now you all know is the daughter of actor Laurence Harvey, who turned her back on a life of wealth to become and bounty hunter. Keira Knightley turns in a convincing, down and dirty performance as Domino, and somehow one never tires of seeing Mickey Rourke or Christopher Walken in a film. Kelly's script twists and turns in every direction, but never does it feel like he's cheating with it. To try and explain it would be futile, but there are some memorable bits including a wonderful scene that takes place on the Jerry Springer Show and a subplot involving the mob and the DMV! It's downfall occurs towards the end once Tom Waits shows up as a Messianic figure and parts of the film devolve into cheap, simple minded sermonizing. Tony Scott is a stylist first and foremost, not a speaker of important truths. Can I support this kind of filmmaking? Probably not. Can I appreciate or even occasionally enjoy it? Maybe so.