Film Review No. 4

       Written by one of the most intriguing figures in modern cinema, Harmony Korine, 2002's Ken Park offers a powerful look into the lives of suburban teenagers living in dysfunctional homes. Following four distinct characters throughout a single day, the story touches on the subjects of sex, drug use, violence, and abuse as they affect the everyday lives of adolescents in ways that society would prefer to brush under the rug. Clark and Lachman refuse to let us do that though, and put these issues out in the open, demanding our attention. 

Tiffany Limos and Julio Oscar Mochoso in Ken Park

     At times seemingly satirical, the story highlights the struggles facing each of the four leading roles. I was least compelled by the story-line involving Peaches (Tiffany Limos) and her father (Julio Oscar Mochoso) probably because it didn't make a whole lot of sense and was somewhat irritating to watch compared to the other narratives in the movie. 

James Ransone in Ken Park

          The best performance in the movie came from a young James Ransone, now an accomplished actor known for HBO's Generation Kill (2003). Ransone's character in Ken Park, Tate, was a deranged teenager living with his grandparents, filled with hatred and angst, constantly on the brink of apocalyptic destruction. Tate is not a likable character by any  means. He embodies pure evil, but that's partly why he is so intriguing. 

James Bullard, Stephen Jasso, and Tiffany Limos in Ken Park

     
    With his 1999 film, Julien Donkey-Boy, Harmony Korine was the first non-European filmmaker to produce a piece of work committed to the principles of the Dogme 95 manifesto, an oath penned by Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg that places priority on stories and acting rather than the technical aspects of film-making. That theme has been present in all of Korine's films, including Ken Park. It has proven to be a strength for some of his films, but it hindered this particular one to some degree. The sound quality was horrendous and the image was often out of focus, having been filmed on low-tech equipment. Since this film relied so much on story, it's pretty crucial to be able to see and hear what's going on to fully appreciate it.