Review by
Eric Hillis
Directed by: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Charles Dance, Roy Dupuis, Denis Ménochet, Nikki
Amuka-Bird, Rolando Ravello, Takehiro Hira, Zlatko Burić, Alicia
Vikander
Co-directors Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson's Rumours is an absurdist cousin of Ruben Ostlund's Triangle of Sadness, with a bunch of elites quickly finding themselves out of their depth
when they become isolated in a survival scenario. The elites here
couldn't be more elite: they're the G7, the leaders of the world's most
important democracies (and Canada), gathered for a summit at a German
chateau to draft a joint statement on some ambiguous global
crisis.
The film sketches the leaders as broad national stereotypes, and in
some cases they appear to draw from their real life counterparts. US
President Edison (Charles Dance) is a rambling dodder who
struggles to stay awake (Dance's British accent fuels the movie's best
punchline). Prissy German Chancellor Hilda (Cate Blanchett) is
obsessed with taking charge and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
Snooty British Prime Minister Cardosa (Nikki Amuka-Bird) seems to
look down on her colleagues. French President Sylvain (Denis Ménochet) appears more concerned with enjoying a meal and some good wine than
in solving whatever crisis is afoot. Canadian Prime Minister Maxime (Roy Dupuis) is a man-bunned himbo suffering from imposter syndrome. Antonio (Rolando Ravello) and Tatsuro (Takehiro Hira), the respective leaders of Italy
and Japan, are just there to make up the numbers.
After a dinner the leaders knuckle down to drafting their statement,
only for their papers to be blown away as a storm engulfs their gazebo.
After chasing the papers, Sylvain returns, covered in mud. He claims he
got lost and fell into the archaeological dig where bog bodies are being
excavated, and that said remains have come to life. The leaders realise
they're alone, with the staff having mysteriously disappeared and their
cellphones suddenly inactive. Banding together, they try to make their
way through the forest adjoining the chateau, contending with
zombie-like bog bodies and minor crises along the way.
Rumours certainly boasts a great setup, but Maddin and the Johnsons
aren't interested in crafting the sort of political satire the premise
suggests. Aside from hearing of Maxime's past as a left-wing protestor,
we're given no indication of where each leader stands on the political
spectrum. The filmmakers seem to be suggesting that at the end of the
day, their elite position means world leaders have more in common with
one another than their political views would suggest. But in refusing to
define the characters' by their political philosophies, the filmmakers
have missed an opportunity to generate comedy from the ways their
individual politics might impact how they approach the crisis they find
themselves in. Rather than satirising politics, Maddin and the Johnsons
rely on cheap, but occasionally amusing, jokes about national
stereotypes. Proving good sports, the Canadian filmmakers are happy to
make their own country the butt of many of the jokes, and most of the
laughs come from the patronising treatment of Maxime by the other
leaders, and from his own self-consciousness.
The cast seem to be having a blast here, with Blanchett an unsurprising
standout, but after a while it becomes less fun for the audience as the
movie struggles to make hay with its potentially great scenario. It's as
though a skit from some comedic variety show has been stretched out to
feature length, but halfway through the comedy elastic snaps and is left
dangling as the film limps to a frustrating conclusion. It's certainly
Maddin's most mainstream work to date, and though it does feature the
odd surreal element like a giant brain inexplicably discovered in the
middle of the woods, it feels like the arthouse auteur is purposely
restraining himself to reach a new audience. With little to say other
than pointing out the vanity of the sort of people who would become
leaders, Rumours is as empty as a politician's promise.
Rumours is in UK/ROI cinemas
from December 6th.
