The Fall Movie Review

The Fall (2006)

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Written by: Dan Gilroy and Nico Soultanakis & Tarsem Singh (screenplay), Valeri Petrov (1981 screenplay Yo Ho Ho)
Directed by: Tarsem Singh
Starring: Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru, Justine Waddell
Rated: R
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Plot
In 1920s Los Angeles, a bedridden patient in a hospital captivates a young girl with a fantastic tale of heroes, myths, and villains on a deserted island.

Verdict
It's a neat idea that falls short, and yet a visual adventure that triumphs. It's a story that takes inspiration from life, both the story teller in what he relays and the listener's imagination. What's happening in reality bleeds into the story, or the story in reality. But there's a disconnect as the characters in the story have no agency. I want to like this because I want it to be better, and I can see what this desires to be, but the in world fictional story needs to have more meaning
It depends.

Review
This begins in a hospital where patient Roy (Lee Pace) tells a story about Alexander the Great after meeting a little girl recovering from a broken arm, Alexandria (Catinca Untaru). He promises to tell her an even greater tale if she returns tomorrow.

Lee Pace plays Roy

Roy spins a story about a group of six set on revenge against the evil Governor Odius led by the Black Bandit. Roy's words only extend so far, but Alexandria's imagination picks up the rest. While Roy describes an "Indian" and we know he means Native American, Alexandria envisions a man from India. Roy is using the movie he worked on as inspiration. We learn he's a stunt man in a Western, and an on set injury landed him in the hospital.

Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru play Roy, Alexandria

At first I wondered if Roy was lonely, but we soon realize Roy isn't just passing the time. His ulterior motive is to gain the girl's trust. Roy is bedridden so he wants to use her to sneak into the pharmacy and obtains pills. Roy's career is in jeopardy and his girlfriend has left him. He doesn't see a future. Details of Roy's life work into the story, and Alexandria changes details as she sees fit. It becomes a collaborative effort. Roy becomes the Black Bandit with Alexandria as his daughter. The story becomes wish fulfillment for both of them; an adventure where he's not confined to a bed and she gets to explore the world.

The characters in the fictional story are hollow. I wish the story built more to a goal or aligned closer to reality. What the story represents is important, but not the story itself. It's not even very interesting. This is where the movie struggles. It creates an intriguing world, but the only value is the aesthetics.

Lee Pace plays the Black Bandit

She agrees to help Roy, unaware of his intentions and to ineffective results. He's building this story so she'll unwittingly help him, and it works. Alexandria is desperate to help him, but her next attempt results in her being seriously injured. Roy is devastated, admitting his intentions and wanting to leave. She begs him to finish the story. He feels bad about what he's done and the characters in the story begin to die, reflecting his sadness. He's built up this impressive bandit that represents himself, and he undoes the character. The Bandit becomes a coward because Roy is a coward. At Alexandria's urging, the Bandit and his daughter survive, and Roy dismisses the character representing his former girlfriend.

We eventually see Roy's western and the elements he pulled from it. Alexandria recovers, as does Roy. Alexandria sees a montage of action scenes performed by stunt men. In her mind they're all Roy.