The Brown Bunny (2003) | REVIEW

I like independent flicks despite the common belief that they're boring and monotonous. Not all of them are. But when they decide to be, then they go all out, full-fledged, and will make sure that they bore the life outta' you. The Brown Bunny is beyond monotonous. It's slower than the speed of a sedan being pushed by a 5-year old kid. And it's heavy. If you're going to watch The Brown Bunny, I suggest you do it on a completely free day because if you're busy and have someplace else to go, you won't make it 30minutes into the movie. Be warned. This is not your regular dose of boredom. Nope, this is something else.

You're probably getting the notion that I hate this small project by director Vincent Gallo who also plays the lead in The Brown Bunny. I don't. I kinda' like it. I made myself free one day and decided to watch this thing just to see what it was all about. The story never picks up, the acting never changes, and the emotion of this film is sandbagged, heavy, and depressing. There is very little dialogue throughout and no uber-fantastic shots and camera angles. It's just a very straight, very direct approach at the independent market that doesn't rely much on fancy camerawork or experimental shots, so don't expect any. The Brown Bunny doesn't even reflect the modern, hyperactive side of the American lifestyle. It portrays a sort of laid back, dull version of an America that we hardly ever see portrayed on film.

This Movie Is About...
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Bud Clay (Vincent Gallo), a motorcycle racer, undertakes a cross-country drive, following a race in New Hampshire, in order to participate in a race in California. All the while he is haunted by memories of his former lover, Daisy (Chloë Sevigny). On his journey he meets three different women, but is unable to form an emotional connection with any of them.
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A very short synopsis, yes, but that's basically all what The Brown Bunny is about. There is, of course, one other thing that Vincent Gallo's film is known for, and it's probably the only reason why this movie received more publicity than it should have, and that's the controversial fellatio scene between Chloë Sevigny and Vincent Gallo. In more sophisticated terms for those of you who only know porn-slang, there's a scene in The Brown Bunny where Vincent Gallo actually receives a blowjob on camera. Not on the camera, I mean it was recorded on film. Now I've got your attention, haven't I? I'm pretty sure I know what's next in line on your *cough* Ares or *ah-choo* Limewire list of movies. ;)

Of course, Chloë Sevigny became a controversial figure in Hollywood after accepting to literally blow Gallo on film, but she's still an actor and I'm guessing she did receive some pats on the back for being the daring type. It's confusing, really. You can have unlimited amounts of sex scenes in a film despite it not being a porno, you can hint at all sorts of positions, but someones shunned in the same industry when she decides to take things further? Maybe it's because the film suddenly looked too pornographic to be a independent gig that was filmed at Cannes. Also, said scene is probably the reason why Kristen Dunst and Winona Ryder dropped out of the project for seemingly 'unknown reasons'. Speaking of Cannes, it's a well-known fact that Vincent Gallo and megacritic Roger Ebert had a bitter fallout after Ebert's negative comments on The Brown Bunny. And trust me, the rivalry was effin' hilarious. Here's how it goes:

A war of words then erupted between Gallo and film critic Roger Ebert, with Ebert writing that The Brown Bunny was the worst film in the history of Cannes, and Gallo retorting by calling Ebert a "fat pig with the physique of a slave trader." Ebert then responded, paraphrasing a statement attributed to Winston Churchill, that "one day I will be thin, but Vincent Gallo will always be the director of The Brown Bunny." Gallo then claimed to have put a hex on Ebert's colon, cursing the critic with cancer. Ebert then replied that enduring his colonoscopy would be more entertaining than watching The Brown Bunny. Gallo subsequently stated that he had been misquoted, and that the hex had actually been placed on Ebert's prostate, and that the whole thing had been meant as a joke which was misinterpreted by a reviewer.

Of course, the two made peace afterwards when Gallo re-edited the film and screened it again, this time earning Ebert's respect and praise.

The Brown Bunny is a very different kind of movie, meant only for those who are willing to sit through it till the end. It has a very depressing nature, very slow pace, little dialogue, and a disturbing, haunting conclusion. Like most indy flicks, its response were at extreme ends. Some love it, some hate it, and there are little to none in the middle category. As far as acting goes, kudos go out to Chloë Sevigny because in my opinion, she's the one who really does the acting in this movie. Watch it if you're into independent filmmaking or if you don't mind indulging in different genres for the sake of knowledge. Otherwise, you will not enjoy The Brown Bunny one damn bit.
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Wrap : The Brown Bunny gets a 3.2 out of 5.0. It isn't very entertaining, but Gallo had put a lot of effort into his lil' project. Not having special effects and camera tricks may seem all too easy, but it is in fact harder to do because you're not allowed or don't have the budget to rely on technology to save your @$$ when in a tight spot. Taking all that into account, The Brown Bunny is worth a peek.

P.S : In Richard Schickel's documentary Welcome to Cannes, there is mention of a rumor launched during the Cannes Film Festival by French filmmaker Claire Denis, who directed Trouble Every Day, a movie featuring Vincent Gallo. According to Denis, the penis appearing on the infamous fellatio scene is a prosthetic stolen from the set of Trouble Every Day. So the next time you see a porno and say "Damn that's huge!", think again. In this business, porno or not, filmmakers always have ways to make you see what they want you to see.