Our Flick of the Week is “Julian Po,” a crazy, mixed-up parable about a crazy mixed-up 30-year-old man finding himself stranded in a crazy mixed-up small town.
Christian Slater plays the title character, whose car breaks down near a small, dusty town that looks like a candidate for a “Twilight Zone” episode. The adult male population is suspicious of the stranger, who checks into a fleabag hotel and is the only guest.
Suspected of being a potential murderer, Julian Po blurts out that the only person he wants to kill is himself. Suddenly, that makes him more likable and draws from the town acts of kindness and personal confessions. Including — of course — a dalliance with the most beautiful girl in this little world.
Religious allegories abound until the film’s quick-as-a-wink ending, which may give you whiplash. You are left with one question: What was that all about?
Some of this might be tolerable if the character of Julian Po was the least bit interesting, but his life meant absolutely nothing to me. Rated PG-13. (star) 1/2
– CONTEMPT. Jean-Luc Godard’s 1963 masterpiece has been restored through the sponsorship of Martin Scorsese, and we all owe him thanks for that. This is a stunningly powerful portrait of the breakdown of a marriage as well as a commentary on the crassness of the film business. Michel Piccoli plays a screenwriter who ignores his wife (Brigitte Bardot in the performance that moves her beyond the “sex kitten” category) to further his career by playing up to a vulgar American film producer (Jack Palance). The sun-kissed Capri location only exaggerates the emptiness of the lives of those who occupy it. No MPAA rating. (star) (star) (star) (star)
– = New this week