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By
DEBORAH NICOL
Leave it to director Danny
Boyle ("Trainspotting," "28 Days Later") to create
a dark and upsetting atmosphere for the tale of a
door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesmen. But
honestly, are there many other jobs of such a
lowly and dreary quality?
Wannabe DJ Pete finds himself without his usual
gig as musical backup for his stripper girlfriend,
and falls into a training position as a vacuum
salesman. This timid and well-meaning fellow finds
himself in the passenger seat of top salesman
Tommy (Timothy Spall of "Topsy-Turvy," "The Last
Samurai"), a terror unto himself. Tommy will do
anything for a sale, and proves vile and abrasive
in every aspect.
Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle -- frequent
Dogme film-school contributor -- applies the plot
to the film literally. In grainy digital quality,
Mantle often uses the point-of-view of the vacuum
cleaner itself. There are many views from the
floor, from the glove compartment, and from the
car's backseat floor mats. The audience feels the
grit and grime of the job and the layers of filth
that slowly start to consume Pete. As his layers
build, Tommy's begin to peel. Such is the life
cycle of a door-to-door salesman.
Boyle is a director for dark humors. Though the
filming is inventive and chaotic, the film is an
acquired taste for a grungy mood. The only DVD
extra is a photo gallery. |
