Chopper (Andrew Dominik, 1998)

[LeeB.Sims]

Is there a separate thread for Dominik's first film, Chopper? I just watched it this weekend and was blown away. Was hoping to come here and catch up on some discussion of it, but couldn't find a thread with the search feature. Let me know... or if there is not one yet and there are some fans of the film that would be interested in discussion maybe I should start one…

[Mr Sausage]

Is there a separate thread for Dominik's first film, Chopper?

Yes. At least now, anyway.

And let me second the "blown away" sentiment. A strange and fascinating movie.

[zombeaner]

I agree, this is a fantastic film. Perhaps a bit gimmicky, but fantastic nonetheless.

[LeeB.Sims]

I think I see what you mean by gimmicky in one scene. There is the whole MTV/Quinton T/Lola rennt kinda thing going on at one point (alternate perspectives of the same shooting) but it was an extremely fascinating experience throughout. And god what a lead performance by Eric Bana. Jesus H Christ. When people are mentioning films where a single lead performance stands out in such a way that it should be legendary, Eric Bana's should be in the top half of the list. It would probably be even more impressive (but less entertaining) if the supporting cast wasn't so amazing too, especially that guy who played Blue. The deleted scene that has just his reaction to an extremely long and chilling scene was a thing of beauty. Really.

[colinr0380]

I also liked Chopper a lot, and still think it is Eric Bana's best performance so far. I was amazed at how lovable they managed to make him despite also ensuring that he remained a vicious, out of control and insecure maniac! It is also hard not to laugh with the "I'm a best selling writer and I'm bloody illiterate" speech at the end! Even if it is a depressing statement about celebrity culture, the quality of 'real' writers and where publisher's interests lie!

It is also fascinating the way he chips away at even quite good relationships through his insecurities until they all turn on him and he gets to say "I knew you weren't any good!", but actually seems happier and knows what to do with somebody as an enemy than when they are his friends!

That 'likeability' though really makes those moments when he is destroying his relationships much sadder as he seems genuinely sorry after them, and while making lots of enemies shapes his world into something more easily understandable, it just seems to add to the guilt and paranoia that makes it likely that the cycle will start all over again, just with different people to feel betrayed or wronged by.

The extra features on the disc were also very good, especially Dominik's commentary and the commentary from Mark Brandon Read himself, as well as the pre-film visits Dominik and Bana made to Read.

[Mr Sausage]

You might all know this anyway, but Chopper went on to do a whole bunch of "feelgood" public interest TV commercials.

Certainly his face is unforgettable.

Yeah, you can find them on youtube. The one he did against spousal abuse is rather amusing in light of the movie.

[colinr0380]

You might all know this anyway, but Chopper went on to do a whole bunch of "feelgood" public interest TV commercials.

Certainly his face is unforgettable.

Yeah, you can find them on youtube. The one he did against spousal abuse is rather amusing in light of the movie.

This one?

That was another thing that the film did well, showing the contradictions of how someone can hit his girl and take the 'you made me do it to you' approach and at the same time be able to judge other people as unredeemable for doing similar things. I suppose it is another way of punishing the acts he feels most guilty about committing himself by treating them much more severely when he sees them being done by others.

Spoilers

I read some reviews that said the film was glamourising the criminal world and employed a lot of flashy techniques for no particular purpose, but I thought it was handled very well in showing a person, or at least the character portrayed in the film, who seems much more at ease in a prison environment - it is much more controllable and fits with Chopper's use of violence. There is no talk of escape by Chopper, just wild plans to take over the prison to prove he is the 'daddy', and the prison scenes seem to show him at his happiest and most relaxed. It even in a strange way elevates his life to a higher level as his stabbing takes on a more dramatic "Et tu Brute" dimension, or when he makes his grand gesture of cutting his ears off! Nobody else there feels the same way, but it is a perfect place to allow Chopper to mythologise himself.

Whereas outside everything is confusing and rather sordid, even for a crime film, with the usual slide into drink and drugs, and then he has the difficult task of trying to talk his way back into jail!

I love the final scenes of the interview scene (the point we'd leave the film if we were just mythologising the character) and then the scene with Chopper and the prison guards watching it on television in his cell. That last scene seems to encapsulate the whole film as Chopper has obviously endeared himself to the guards, and is having fun with his new famous persona.

Then the guards leave and there is a moment of Chopper completely alone in his cell that is perfectly timed - this is someone whose life is built around people's reactions to him and his response to them in return, but what happens to the performer when his audience leaves and he is left with only himself for company, never able to step out of character? We haven't seen him alone at all in the film and it could be seen as a moment of sadness as he has no one left.

However the opposite could be implied - that he has been surrounded by, and playing up to, everyone's expectations of Chopper Read and he gets his first moment of peace in the film now that he is back in the security of a prison cell and doesn't have to act any more - at least until the guards unlock the door the next morning.

In retrospect the Jesse James/Robert Ford film was a logical choice for Dominik to further expand on the themes from this film.

[LeeB.Sims]

Goddamn it I can't stop watching this film. I haven't purchased it yet but I must have rented it about five times at this point. I'm starting to get some strange looks from the pimply crew at my local Hollywood Video. I can't help it though. There is something so incredibly compelling about Bana's performance that I think I am starting to develop a bit of a man-crush. In particular, his non-verbal reaction during the scene where (spoiler):

Jimmy stabs him repeatedly

is both subtle and heartbreakingly vivid. There is a moment where he starts to sway in confusion and absently bites at his bottom lip and my breath just catches in my throat every time I see it. Another thing that is so remarkable about what Bana does with this character is the added layer of remorse he invokes. I won't pretend to know the real Chopper Read well enough to speculate as to weather or not this is an existing component of his psychology, but it doesn't matter. Bana's Chopper is something wholly original in his astounding humanity. The final scene Colin speaks of in the above post and also the paradoxical camaraderie he displays for his arch rival Keithy George are both elements of the film that convince me Bana is one of the greatest actors working today. To think that prior to this he was a stand-up comedian and sketch comedy actor makes it all the more astounding. I can't gush enough about him really and I just had to revive this thread to share with you guys my completely platonic love for this actor. Should my girlfriend by concerned?