Swiss Army Man

[kevinknapman]

Swiss Army Man is comfortably the best film you're likely to see this year about the relationship between a suicidal loner and a talking, farting corpse.

Not the easiest sell in the world admittedly but there's much to treasure in this story of Hank (Paul Dano), a young man stranded on a small island who decides to give up and take his own life.
Whilst doing so he spots a body (Daniel Radcliffe) washed up on the beach and decides to investigate. This is no ordinary corpse however and due to it expelling a large amount of gas, Hank is able to ride the corpse like a jet-ski (stick with me) and finds himself on a bigger land mass. Soon the corpse starts to become more animated and even begins to talk. It becomes apparent that the corpse, now called Manny, can be used in a variety of ways to help Hank get home. To say anymore would spoil the many surprises the film has up it's sleeve (plus you probably wouldn't believe me any way).

As you can probably tell, Swiss Army Man is unlike anything you've ever seen before.
Though there is something of the DIY aesthetic of Michel Gondry at times, it is very much its own thing. A film in which profound meditations on life and love co-exist alongside fart and boner jokes.

Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe are both excellent. Sharing an odd but charming chemistry that helps make the film more moving as it progresses. Dano is no stranger to this kind of oddball loner role but Radcliffe is the real surprise with this probably being his best performance to date (make of that what you will). Mary Elizabeth Winstead also shines in a small but pivotal role as the woman of their dreams.

Daniels bring a certain kind of genius to the film visually, with Manny's abilities and Hank's way of teaching him about the real world depicted in a wonderfully inventive manner. An inventiveness that also extends to its playful score which often starts out of the mouths of Hank and Manny before being taken over on the soundtrack by Andy Hull & Robert McDowell (of US indie band Manchester Orchestra). You'll certainly never be able to listen to John Williams' Jurassic Park theme in the same way again.

One of the best films of the year, that Swiss Army Man exists at all feels like a minor miracle in an industry increasingly likely to focus on the safer option of superhero movies, sequels and remakes.
With such an outlandish and potentially alienating premise it may struggle to find the audience it deserves.
Those willing to give it a go however should hopefully find it as unexpectedly moving and funny as it is as mad as a box of frogs.

[D-Fens]

^Littered with spoilers.

Great movie, tone is a bit uneven at the start but it eventually settles.

[fillumboy2]

Probably the weirdest film to reach the multiplex screens this year.

Castaway meets Weekend at Bernie's, as if directed by Michel Gondry.

Some people won't "get it", and it doesn't always hold together, but if you just trust the makers and go with it, it is one of the most enjoyable films we've seen in the last few months.