It’s revolting. It’s repulsive. It’s disturbing. It’s disgusting. But most of all, Blindness is disappointing. Fernando Meirelles is the man responsible for perhaps the most highly acclaimed film of this century, City of God. However, he failed miserably with his latest project. The film is about a mysterious blindness that leaves a city completely devastated and eventually torn to pieces. The victims of this disease do not experience your typical case of blindness, where you imagine nothing but complete darkness. What they experience here, is a white-out. As if you were starring into the sun and all you can see is extreme light. This disease manages to turn a once civilized city of patrons into a jungle of wild dogs…blind wild dogs. Blindness has some of the most physically disturbing scenes that I have ever laid eyes on. However, while they’re grotesque and volatile, they are essential in bringing this film to life. What little life it ended up having.
The film itself is entirely carried on the shoulders of its main cast members. Mark Ruffalo plays an eye doctor who comes in contact with a patient claiming he’s gone blind. The next morning, the same happens to Mark Ruffalo. His wife played by Julianne Moore, who turned in fantastic performance, is actually the only person who hasn’t been infected with the disease. Those who have are quickly quarantined by the authorities and sent to an abandoned mental institution. Not wanting to leave her husbands side, The Doctor’s wife sneaks into an ambulance and she too is quarantined with the mass blind. However, with Gael Garcia Bernal proclaiming himself “King of Ward 3,” it doesn’t take long for the community of the blind to completely break down. His character was one that I was truly excited to see, but it ended with him having very little meaningful screen time. Plus he was a fucking scumbag. Alice Braga also contributes to the film nicely in a supporting role, but hands down, if it weren’t for the overall failure of this film, Julianne Moore would be a lock for her fifth Oscar nomination.
Where Blindness fell short is in the direction and writing aspects. Not that I have anything against Fernando Meirelles or Don McKellar, their both geniuses in their own right, however some films just don’t turn out as planed. Despite having an A-list cast, an Oscar nominated director and an accomplished writer; you’re still not guaranteed a good film. I also think that not all books adapt well onto the big screen, case and point here. Not that I’ve read Blindness, I wouldn’t know. I also felt cheated in some scenes. Some scenes would cut to white long before I felt they were complete, which occurred a handful of times. Not to mention that 3 or 4 times I either felt as if I was going to fall asleep or wanted to walk out on the film.
Well I wasn’t going to use this line, but I have no choice. I wish I would have gone blind so I didn’t have to sit through this fucking movie. WHACKED!
Rotten Tomatoes – 40%
IMDB – 7.2/ 10
Moviewiseguys – 5.0/ 10
