WATCHMEN

The year is 1985, the place is an alternate America in which masked vigilantes have been outlawed and the U.S. and Soviet Union are on the brink of nuclear annihilation. This is the backdrop in which the murder of an ex-superhero prompts his former teammate (Rorschach) to investigate the crime. The investigation will uncover a larger and sinister conspiracy that will determine the fate of humankind.

WATCHMEN feature actors Billy Crudup (Dr. Manhattan), Patrick Wilson (Night Owl 2), Jackie Earle Haley (Rorschach), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Comedian) and Malin Ackerman (Silk Spectre 2). The film is written by David Hayter and Alex Tse and directed by Zack Snyder.

The plot of the film is a murder mystery, a Who-Dunnit and that’s what kept me glued to my seat. The opening collage of scenes that establish the film's reality as parallel to our own is intricately done. In this America costumed crime fighters were commonplace but are now outlawed by President Nixon who is serving a fifth consecutive term in power. The film begins with the murder of ex-Watchmen team member, The Comedian. This initiates Rorschach's inspection into the killing and into his suspicions that ex-superheroes are being targeted. The characters are portrayed as imperfect and therefore more human. They are not typical superheroes like Spiderman and Superman; they are flawed individuals with their share of social and psychological problems. Rorschach can be considered the protagonist of the piece and the mystery unravels through his eyes. The back stories of the main characters are explored at opportune moments. Simultaneously clues are provided to answer the nagging question…who's behind this hullabaloo? Although a few exaggerated slo-mo action scenes and an extended sex scene jolts you into attention, keep in mind that the pace is of a drama and not an action blockbuster.

The dialogue is rich and constantly reminds us that this is a mature drama made for adults. Rorschach's monologues are complex, Dr. Manhattan's lines are filled with philosophical depth and even the other characters bring a gritty realism with the dialogue.

   

The cinematography is a feast for the eyes, but certain scenes unintentionally appear cartoonish. The editing is adequate but something that hinders it is the repetitive slowing down and speeding up of many scenes. I understand that every director strives for a visual trademark, but Snyder simply over does it to the point of being annoying. Something else that is overused is the soundtrack; a moody original score is replaced by song after song from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Yes we know its 1985, but we don't need to be reminded of it every scene.

The acting is definitely this film's strong suit. The male actors have been perfectly cast in their respective roles. The stand out performance is by Jackie Earle Haley who plays Rorschach. Even wearing the mask doesn't diminish his acting and screen presence. But the only kink in the armor is Malin Ackerman, who is clearly incorrectly cast as a key figure in the story. Her portrayal of Silk Spectre 2 is superficial and stands out like a sore thumb.WATCHMEN is based on the beloved graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Having not read the novel prior to viewing the movie, I cannot comment on how faithful the film adaptation is to its source material. What I can say is that the film experience is indeed novel (pun intended). The film isn't great, it isn't bad either it's just an ok movie. Director Zack Snyder (300) has come reasonably close to making a good film. Probably the most significant dilemma faced by the director was trying to compress the expansive story from novel to film. Snyder's attempt is commendable although many of the revelations in the plot came as no real surprise. Even the ending seems like much ado about nothing but I'm sure the version in the novel is dissimilar. This is Snyder's Watchmen and not Moore's so some credit is deserved by the filmmaker. Whichever way you view it, cinema or rental WATCHMEN is unique and worth the watch. 

Rating: 3/5 

S. V. Fernando