If you’re going to title your film Manure you had best ensure it isn’t true to the name. The Polish Brother’s latest film premiered at Sundance to – I’m not joking here – a few snores and the most people walking out prior to the Q&A I have seen. Usually a few press people walk out after a public screening in Park City because they have elsewhere to be, or will be interviewing the cast and crew later anyways. This was a near mass exodus. I’m saying all of this so you can fully understand that Manure is a lot like shit, whenever possible you want to avoid stepping anywhere near it.
Head Honcho, Josh Tyler, mentioned a few times during the week at Sundance that so many films may have had a decent story but just didn’t look that good. Shots were framed awkwardly, or the director appeared unsure of how to put a scene together. I bring this up because while I’ve seen a lot of critic bashing for Manure (most of it deserved) there were some real redeeming qualities. The film is shot with gorgeous painted backdrops and a sepia tone that makes it unquestionably one of most beautiful films to come out of the festival this year.
On top of that is a brilliant score, especially as Kyle McLachlan’s character – along with his fertilizer salesman cohorts – parachutes down to do business. Stuart Matthewman’s theme for Manure is a robust affair that is a highlight of an otherwise mediocre film.
The problem here is that you just don’t empathize with any character, least of all Tea Leoni’s plight to save a business she cares nothing about. Director Michael Polish told Reuters before Sundance began that the title takes the power of calling the film shit away from critics because that’s what the film is about. When you have a story that is absolutely uninvolving and try to punch it up with pretty shots you still end up with a banal film. No title can take away what any person thinks of a movie. If Chris Nolan had titled The Dark Knight, “Batman: Weird Gravelly Voice That Will Annoy Audiences,” it still would have made many of the CB Top 10 lists of 2008. Why? Because the movie itself was great.
Here’s the thing: Manure isn’t a piece of shit film. It’s quite a bit better than that. What Manure actually ends up being is boring.
