Ogres Are Like Onions.

The Enormous Space

SLACKER

Writing a synopsis of ‘Slacker’ is near enough impossible, as it has no plot. Instead, the camera follows almost 100 unnamed ‘Slackers’ of Austin, Texas, as they go about their day, never staying on a particular character for longer than 10 minutes and never returning to a previous character. The best synopsis that can be given for the film is in the first scene, when a man, played by director Richard Linklater, talks about a dream he has had which made him think about how every choice a person makes impacts on their life, and the choice they could have made ‘fractions off and becomes its own reality, just goes on from there...we’ll never see it because we are kinda trapped in this one reality’.
This is what the characters in Slacker do, the camera leaves them, leaving the viewer with unanswered questions and the feeling that their lives are carrying on elsewhere.

Whilst watching slacker, it reminded me of a recent BBC sitcom/drama; ‘Roger and Val have just got in’ starring Dawn French and Alfred Molina.  The show runs for thirty minutes in real time and depicts the daily after-work routine of an ordinary middle-aged couple. In a way, this could not be further from ‘Slacker’, as there are only two characters, neither of whom leave the house during the programme,  but the mundanity of their conversation and the fact that nothing happens is reminiscent of a fly on the wall documentary - which is what Slacker feels like.

On top of the non-existent plot, there are several other things in this film which make it unique. One that is particularly prevalent is the fact that the film seems real, which was Linklater’s goal:
‘The trick of the film [was] to make it seem like a documentary’.
No professional actors were used- all characters were played by local people, friends and friends of friends that the director thought suited the parts he had written - in a way, the actors were playing themselves.
In fact, I believe that Slacker is even more true to life than a documentary (which generally tell some sort of structured story, and follow the same people throughout) and manages to successfully portray life's chaos.
Another interesting thing is the lack of scene setting music for the majority of the film, which is a large part of most other films, as there is no need in Slacker to build excitement for a climax, as there isn't one coming. Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times, said of Linklater:
‘He doesn't want to go anywhere with them. He doesn't need a car chase to wrap things up. He is simply amused.’

Some critics were negative about Slacker, with Vincent Canby, New York Times, writing;
‘After a while, a certain monotony sets in, as well as desperation’
and Chris Hicks, Deseret News, saying;
‘There are some interesting people here, but they seem outnumbered by those that are extremely dull’
I can understand these opinions, as the film does begin to drag after a while with no plot to keep the viewer gripped, but I think that that just adds to the message of the film- as real life does drag, and these people that Linklater is portraying arent going anywhere with their lives, they are simply meandering through- which I think is illustrated perfectly by the rambling story-line.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTLiPbtnhvU&NR=1&feature=fvwp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Zt2FVO-eI Richard Linklater on the making of ‘Slacker’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/jan/16/sundance-generation-x

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910823/REVIEWS/108230303/1023

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/slacker/

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700001673/Slacker.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102943/

slightly further on.

eurgh

I was ill yesterday, so have done this all today. Its nowhere near finished and I reaaalllyyy dont like it- its nothing like what I wanted it to be. But I cannot work any longer tonight. Crit tomorrow. yay.

SNOW

So there's a blizzard outside.

And this poster was on the tube today. Irony right there.