11:14 - rubbish

11:14 is a rubbish indie movie that was written and directed by Greg Marcks. It was made a long time ago and is only just getting a UK cinematic release. The concept of the movie is one we have seen many times before. We follow a lot of different characters doing their stuff around the critical time-code 11:14pm. For this is the time of the car accident that unites all the characters. For what it's worth the director manages the non-linear plot well and all the ends do tie up. Moreover, he managed to persuade a lot of A-grade actors to take part - Hilary Swank, Barbara Hershey to name a few - even if they are never asked to stretch themselves. But clever (derivative) concept aside, this movie has nothing to offer. The tension of figuring out what actually happened is undermined by an attempt at black humour. The humour fails to come off. Yes sir, Greg Marcks has made a film in which we, the audience, are asked to feel emotionally involved in the untimely death of a girl while simulataneously laughing at a pissed kid getting his penis severed. Now that's multi-tasking.

11:14 showed at Cannes *2003*! It has since been released in a variety of countries and is available on Region 1 DVD. It is currently on release in the UK.