Swedish filmmaker Lukas Moodysson is known for vulgar provocations like “A Hole in My Heart” and the spiritually-aware sex-trafficking odyssey “Lilya-4-Ever,” so the director’s latest, “Mammoth,” is something of a departure. Trading in the lion’s share of his frequently bunk sensationalism for quiet introspection, Moodysson comes up with one of the most agreeable, and unexpectedly poignant, globetrotting mosaics thus far — and there have been quite a few (anyone remember the dead-on-arrival “Rendition”?).
Though similar in many ways to Alejandro Gonzàlez Iñarritu’s “Babel”— even sharing actor Gael Garcia Bernal — the scaled down “Mammoth” is (at least I think) a more satisfying film because it’s not trying to eat you alive with its self-importance, and, at least until the the last act, which is a tad overwrought and melodramatic, the focus is placed more on people than big, we-are-the-world statements and tragedies that bring people together.
This domestic trailer for the film just doesn’t capture that. One of “Mammoth’s” real strengths is its understatement, evidenced the social realism of its performances; the identifiable duress of the film’s overworked mom — a spiritual cousin of Catherine Keener’s stressed parent in “Where the Wild Things Are” — magnificently played by Michelle Williams; and the earnest but a little naive husband (Bernal), who runs a popular gaming website and who, at the outset of the film, travels to Thailand with his sleazy lawyer to sign a multimillion dollar contract.
This trailer more of less reduce the movie to a series of generic titles (“their family seemed perfect,” “perfection is not what it seems”) and dramatic moments, of which in reality there are very few. “Mammoth” is made to look like a kinetic piece of filmmaking here, rife with sex and action, but people looking for that from Moodysson’s film will likely be as disappointed as the booing audience at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year.
“Mammoth” is set for a limited release from IFC, opening November 20th.
Also, for a better representation of the film, along with a glimpse of its most frustratingly leaden globalism metaphor (a young girl’s frequent trips to the planetarium), be sure to check out “Mammoth’s” original, international trailer.
I think the trailer was ok, there were some good angles that showed a promising film.
Looks interesting. Michelle is such a natural actor & beauty.
She gives one of this year's best performances, which isn't the least bit surprising—she was the only thing I really liked about the no-good-very-bad-day marathon "Wendy and Lucy."
"it's not trying to eat you alive with its self-importance, and, at least until the the last act, which is a tad overwrought and melodramatic, the focus is placed more on people than big, we-are-the-world statements and tragedies that bring people together."
Did you and I see the same movie?
I´m from sweden and maybe that makes me a little biased but i thought BABEL was fucking great and had none of the self importance that Lukas Moodysons MAMMOTH completely reeeeks of. And so does every movie he has ever done since "tillsammans" (his only good movie xcept for "fucking åmål).
Babel was great. That club-scene fucking kills. Mammoth is for self important vegans who like the smell of their own farts.
HUH!
… I kinda went a little overboard there but mammoth is one of those movies that really Pissed me of.
sorry 🙁
Mammoth is a Swedish movie about the relations between parents and children. The story revolves around successful New York couple Leo and Ellen and their 8-year old daughter Jackie spends most of her time with her Filipino nanny Gloria. Seriously it is a superb movie, I recommend to everyone to watch Mammoth movie
I thought the same when I saw the trailer (after watching the movie)! "Perfection is not what it seems": makes me think if they have even seen the movie..