Movie Review

Bubble

Looking back on Bubble hours after the film had finished was like thinking back on Jarhead (B-); I knew that I had liked the experience and wasn?t bored, but there was this stinging sensation that what I had just watched for an hour and fifteen minutes was pointless when you really think about it. Bubble is a new film by Steven Soderbergh, and is an experimental film much like his Full Frontal (C+) entry, which was seen by few, and it looked much better on paper as a unique concept (actors were to improvise their scenes and do their own makeup, and no on-set trailers would be provided for anyone). Soderbergh also remade Solaris (B), an infuriating effort for about half the people who view it; with its slow space and minimalist action, it drove audiences mad. He?s had an interesting career thus far and clearly is not too self-conscious about the public eye ? for someone like Spielberg would never try to make a film like Bubble, for no one would see it. But there are things to like and admire in this experiment ? and even though it can be seen as pointless and a waste of time, I like it when filmmakers mix it up and try for something different. I?ve seen my share of pointless films that I wish I didn?t experience, and Bubble isn?t one of them.

Set in a small Ohio town, Bubble revolves around three workers at a doll factory whose lives are very predictable and whose jobs leave them with minimal satisfaction. The cast is all unprofessional actors, which is the way Soderbergh wanted it for realism, and it works in the film?s favor. It really feels like we?re dropping in on a slice of reality throughout the film; when on road trips across country lands and whatnot, you see these types of people on your route. Soderbergh paints a very believable and accurate portrayal of American life where stories are seldom told. This is one of those pictures that certain people will especially like just for its depiction of another way of life outside of the hectic big city civilizations; its characters think simple and don?t have sweeping ambitions ? they just want to live life and treat people well.

Bubble is very much an independent/art film in the sense that it?s character-driven and moves along at a very meticulous pace; those with short attention spans will not approve. Most of the film is set in simple locations and just revolves around dialogue amongst the three people; in fact, not much actually happens until about three-quarters of the way through the film. Bubble focuses on their interaction until one of them is found dead, and an investigation goes underway. The title is very much like Gus Van Sant?s film, Elephant (B-), in that it?s one word, and a very peculiar word at that, but this title has more direct relevance without having to dwell on it much; the most obvious interpretation is that the characters are living in a bubble and desperately want out (and a bubble that is perhaps on the verge of bursting). The poster for Bubble is pretty eerie and actually doesn?t represent the tone of the film all that well; the experience is not eerie. And the marketing tagline, ?Another Steven Soderbergh experience? comes off as very egotistical (in a bad way) upon coming out of the ?experience,? as it?s really nothing too ?out there? (it?s a ballsy move that?s even worse than M. Night Shyamalan?s name listings before his film?s titles).

The film is pointless in the sense that I didn?t take much out of it other than a reminder of how different various people live their life. Only a description like that could be called ?cinema? in a timeframe like now; it sounds very arty and is something that rarely comes around. Will many people like Bubble? No; its pacing will try the patience of most and there is no real ?reward? for a regular viewer (this is more of a film buff?s piece). It?s up there with Solaris in its likelihood of pissing off regular moviegoers who might stumble upon it ? but judging from its very obvious art-house roots, I don?t think that many people will come upon it. Bubble is a little like Gus Van Sant?s picture, Gerry (B) (which was about two guys getting lost in the desert), in that most moviegoers will never hear about it, and there will only be a handful of folks who give it a thumbs-up. In that sense, Soderbergh found the right project to experiment with, as it won?t get the exposure that Solaris got due to having George Clooney at the lead and James Cameron at the producing front. Bubble?s audience will be very limited, and so only a handful of people will be infuriated by a yet another Soderbergh experimentation, while the few other people get a reasonably intriguing trip.

Lee's Grade: C+
Ranked #71 of 177 between Lady in the Water (#70) and Ice Age 2 (#72) for 2006 movies.

A	0.4%
B	30.0%
C	61.7%
D	8.0%
F	0.0%