Domino — movie review

by Chris   ⋅   October 17, 2005   ⋅   Comment now   ⋅    RSS

Tony Scott has made some truly shitty movies. Revenge, The Last Boy Scout, and Spy Game are all films that the world would be a better place without. But, on the other hand, he has also made a few action classics, as evidenced by True Romance, Enemy of the State, and Top Gun. So when it came to Domino, much like coin toss of the film’s slogan, I figured it could have at the very least a 50/50 chance of being something worthwhile.

As you know by now (Dreamlogic’s Domino Contest) Domino is the story of real life model turned bounty hunter, Domino Harvey. We first meet Domino in police custody, as she is being interviewed by Police Psychologist, Lucy Liu. It appears her latest human reconnaissance job went terribly wrong, and through filmic flashback we bear witness as her band of hunters find themselves involved in a messy situation involving stolen casino money, “celebrity hostages” Brian Austin Greene and Ian Ziering, forged Social Security cards, and a group of targets with associations to a big time Nevada crime boss. Sadly, we’ve seen most of this before.

Tony Scott, taking a cue from Oliver Stone, presents the story using every camera trick, color manipulation, and shutter speed tweak that can fit into two hours worth of 24 frame shots. Initially the technique is interesting, but as in Stone’s work, it quickly wears out its welcome, as everything ranging from shootouts to a leisurely party by the pool is shot in swooping, twirling, snatches. One point toward the end of the film, and long after losing audience interest, involves what should be a profoundly disturbing mescaline trip, due to the fact it is presented in exactly the same way as the mescaline free portion of the film it serves to elicit more yawns than edge of your seat thrills. When the film finally closes in on its final action set-piece, Scott recycles his mob-shootout-in-a-hotel ending from True Romance and Revenge, blowing even his last chance to make the film interesting. But what more would you expect from a director that admits he’s in the business of moviemaking solely for the money.

Keira, looking absolutely nothing like the real-life Domino, snarls sufficiently given the material, but her bounty hunter performance will never gain her admittance to the bad-ass-chicks hall of fame. It’s not really her fault, though, as the material doesn’t really allow for a tough-as-nails heroine. Take, for example her first “job” in the film. Rather than going out, guns a blazing, she offers the fat gang leader a lap-dance. Can you say exploitive? Scott captures the grungy action from a bevy of angles, complete with a close-up of Keira’s stunt-ass (you didn’t really think someone that skinny would have a butt, did you?). Her later missions, though they involve guns and nunchakus, prove even more forgettable. Rourke is similarly wasted in this film. After carrying Sin City, it’s a shame to see him relegated to set dressing, never once getting the chance to really connect with the audience. Rounding out the cast are Lucy Liu, sadly occupying Hollywood’s sole space for an Asian American Actress (Note: Kelly Hu is not the slightest bit a thespian); Christopher Walken, the King of New York turned Wedding Crasher father-in-law, whose best material, (ie: the “use the numchuks, numchucks are good” line) appears to have been left on the cutting room floor; and Tom Waits in a strange cameo as a sort of desert mystic.

While it is possible Domino could have been a fun movie in more capable hands, I sincerely doubt it. The script, by Donnie Darko’s Richard Kelly, is so vapid it doesn’t really allow for it. At one point in the film Domino states, “I just wanted my story to be told”. If I knew it would have been so drawn out and pointless as all this, I don’t think I’d have bothered to listen.

About the Author:

Chris Nelson has been a film fanatic since age six, and a borderline Keira fan since age 23. Domino has the potential to change all that.

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