Southland Tales

Name: Southland Tales
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Comedy
Released: November 14, 2007
Duration: 145 min
Rating: 44

2007

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Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 92 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 92 Ratings

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Southland Tales

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Movie Details & Credits

Destination Films | Release Date: November 14, 2007 | R

Summary: The city stands on the brink of social, economic, and environmental disaster. Southland Tales is an epic story set over the course of three days that culminate in a massive 4th of July celebration. A large ensemble cast of characters includes Boxer Santaros, an action star stricken with amnesia; Krysta Now, an adult-film star developingThe city stands on the brink of social, economic, and environmental disaster. Southland Tales is an epic story set over the course of three days that culminate in a massive 4th of July celebration. A large ensemble cast of characters includes Boxer Santaros, an action star stricken with amnesia; Krysta Now, an adult-film star developing her own reality-television project; and Roland Taverner, a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy. (Samuel Goldwyn Films)… Expand

Director: Richard Kelly

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 145 min

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Critic Reviews

Manohla Dargis

Funny, audacious, messy and feverishly inspired look at America and its discontents. Read full review

J. Hoberman

In its willful, self-involved eccentricity, Southland Tales is really something else. Kelly's movie may not be entirely coherent, but that's because there's so much it wants to say. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Richard Kelly's Southland Tales isn't just a movie. It's an apocalyptic piñata that's been bazooka-ed open. Read full review

Steven Rea

Dizzyingly incoherent and subversively surreal, this sophomore effort from the man who made the great, strange "Donnie Darko" is certain to have its fans. I'm not going to be one of them. Read full review

Premiere Glenn Kenny

There's a lot of "stuff" here, and Kelly's biggest problem -- he's got more than a few -- is that he can't tell his good material from his bad. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Rarely has a picture been so self-consciously designed to be a culturally meaningful touchstone, and fallen so woefully short, as Southland Tales. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

If a more incoherent and self-indulgent movie has been released so far this century, I'm not aware of it. Read full review

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User Reviews

DanielS.

Nov 18, 2007

Wow, I just saw this movie and I was blown away. I can see why people that look for simplistic forms of entertainment might not get it. Kelly has a style like no other director and it shows. The musical number is Justing Timberlake is just the icing on the cake. This movie rocks as he the Wow, I just saw this movie and I was blown away. I can see why people that look for simplistic forms of entertainment might not get it. Kelly has a style like no other director and it shows. The musical number is Justing Timberlake is just the icing on the cake. This movie rocks as he the rock does too. I went with intelligent friends and they loved it. All it takes is concentration and an understanding that a movie can transcend its limitations.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AndreasS.

Mar 21, 2008

One of the best movies I have ever seen. A huge rollercoaster of happenings. A real masterpiece.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JohnF.

Feb 14, 2008

Without first reading the prequel graphic novel, Southland Tales will seem like the most random film you have ever seen. If you read the graphic novel first, Southland Tales will still be abstract, but it will also actually be coherent and comprehensible. Was this a mistake on the Without first reading the prequel graphic novel, Southland Tales will seem like the most random film you have ever seen. If you read the graphic novel first, Southland Tales will still be abstract, but it will also actually be coherent and comprehensible. Was this a mistake on the filmmaker's part? Yes. Is it eccentric? Yes. Is it a great story worth dedicating hours of your life to understand? Yes. I do not know any other filmmaker and cast who experimented this much with the film medium since David Lynch. Is it Lynch? No. Is it good? Yes. Is it easy to understand? No. Is the film meaningless? No. Like Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly does not coddle his audience in terms of narrative. Like a dream, you are going to have to piece it together after you finish viewing it. Do yourself a favor and buy the Prequel Graphic Novel and read it before watching the film! Then buy the DVD and let the film wash over you like a bizarre dream. At the end of the entire experience, figure it out.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Apemonkey666

Jun 13, 2012

When I saw it in 2008 I was very confused and didn't get it at all. Why would Richard Kelly (the maker of Donnie Darko) make such a mess of a film? I was puzzled and it stayed in the back of my mind till I saw 'The Box' again. For this second viewing I thoroughly preparded myself: I read allWhen I saw it in 2008 I was very confused and didn't get it at all. Why would Richard Kelly (the maker of Donnie Darko) make such a mess of a film? I was puzzled and it stayed in the back of my mind till I saw 'The Box' again. For this second viewing I thoroughly preparded myself: I read all 3 prequel comic books (330p.) and I read some internet explanations. Basically the Southland Tales is a liberal interpretation/rewrite of the Book of Revelations (which hails the second comming of christ and the end of the world) mixed in with modern pop culture and social/political critisism. The biggest fault of this film probably is that it tries to cram in so much that you cannot possibly get it all in one viewing. And those graphics novels realy ARE the first part of the movie. If you read those in MUCH easier to understand and follow the story coz you already know the characters and their backstory and you better understand why certain things happen and why they say and do things. If you can find (and read) those comics and give this film another go you will like it much more and appreciate the strange humor Kelly put in this complex satire...have a nice Apocalypse ;)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JohnM.

Nov 15, 2007

I've seen well made films that i didnt enjoy. ive seen poorly made films that i highly recommend. this may be the only film ive ever seen that is both.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

CineAutoctono

Dec 24, 2015

"Southland Tales" was a movie in a unanimous vote , boring until the final stretch , because the end has been impressive, and with a well-known cast, but the movie was a touch on a surreal narrative border past full day of independence, I 'm not talking about the movie of Roland Emmerich,"Southland Tales" was a movie in a unanimous vote , boring until the final stretch , because the end has been impressive, and with a well-known cast, but the movie was a touch on a surreal narrative border past full day of independence, I 'm not talking about the movie of Roland Emmerich, but of Richard Kelly. but not very bad idea.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

StanU

Nov 19, 2007

A mess is what this turned out to be. I'm all for experiments and stylistic/tonal shifts but this was just too much and too much of it. Couldn't care less about the characters and the plot itself seemed like a uninteresting exercise in threading the points with no regard for the A mess is what this turned out to be. I'm all for experiments and stylistic/tonal shifts but this was just too much and too much of it. Couldn't care less about the characters and the plot itself seemed like a uninteresting exercise in threading the points with no regard for the audience. I'm no hater but it's just not very good.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

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