nightwatch

THE FLICK: Very rarely do I call out a fellow film critic. It’s bad enough that the general public despises us and has been known to toss rotten fruit, dirty underwear or worse on occasion. In our profession journalistic solidarity is of the essence. But when Nightwatch finally made its way to the U.S. after shattering all box office records in its home country of Russia (more specifically laying the smack down on The Lord of the Rings) its debut was met with a big ugly “F” from Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman. I haven’t run across too many films deserving of a rating that low in my reviewing career. They essentially have to be so inept, so incomprehensible or so offensive to my senses that their mere existence is the equivalent of a charley horse in the brain. Nightwatch is not one of those movies. And if Gleiberman watched it again I’m sure he’s say the same thing. Trouble is his “F” already did its damage to an imported foreign language film that probably didn’t have much shot at drumming up a stateside audience anyway. Why am I defending director Timur Bekmambetov’s rather flashy and convoluted story of vampires, witches, warlocks and other assorted immortals duking it out for bragging rights over humanity? Because there’s enough innovation, mystery and just plain “coolness” to make Nightwatch a film of interest - perhaps more so to fans of the genre. As the prologue tells us, these Others have been sparring for years with a rather rigid set of rules in place, not unlike the historically ridiculous bureaucracy faced by your average Russian on the street. Victims can’t be turned into vampires unless licensed. Entrapment with live humans is a big no-no. These supernatural civil servants even have to roam the streets of Moscow in a boring box-like UPS van. Glamorous, it’s not. But it is confusing. Bekmambetov’s film (based on series of novels) bombards the audience with rules, regulations and wild visual effects that put you off balance from the word “go.” But it’s also part of the movie’s appeal, creating a more believable dingy reality than say the color-tinted style of Underworld or Blade. The film successfully integrates the fantastical with the mundane – no small trick to pull off. And one would be remiss not to mention the unique subtitles utilized in the Russian language version (on DVD the film is also available dubbed) which deserve some sort of historical footnote for turning a foreign film negative into a plus. Rather than worrying about intruding on the action, the subtitles in Nightwatch become part of it – dissolving like smoke or shattering on screen in some places. It’s a perfect fit for Bekmambetov’s style and deserving of attention. Just not another “F,” please, Mr. Glieberman. Save that for the Date Movie: Special Edition review. THE FEATURES: Perhaps in anticipation of a box set when the entire trilogy is complete, Fox Searchlight presents Nightwatch on DVD in a rather spare single-disc edition. Extras include an extended ending with comments from Bekmambetov, a sneak peek at the upcoming sequels (very brief) and a full subtitled commentary from novelist Sergei Lukyanenko.