明治末年,大正初期,十市是一名将家安在河边的船夫,他每天的工作是划船接送形形色色的人过河。为了方便村民的出行,一座横跨河两岸的桥即将落成。村民兴高采烈地讨论着桥落成后的便利,只有十市对此有着复杂的感觉。某日,他从河里救了一名受伤的神秘年轻女子。无处可去的她最终只能返回十市家中,这次邂逅开始改变了十市的生活。小田切让首次执导长片,入选威尼斯电影节威尼斯日单元,浅野忠信、苍井优、永濑正敏亦有参与演出。
前FBI探员弗兰克卡(雷·史蒂文森Ray Stevenson 饰)在黑帮杀掉妻儿之后走向了黑暗复仇的不归路。成为这个城市里隐秘的“惩罚者”,令城内不少罪犯闻风丧胆,而他穿着代表惩罚者的骷髅制服,穿梭在这个充满罪恶的都市中。一名新崛起的黑帮份子比利(多米尼克·威斯特 Dominic West 饰)开始向惩罚者叫嚣,并且还要统领城内各大帮派。可一番激斗之后,比利最终还是败在惩罚者的枪下。不过若干时日之后,一位名叫疯人吉姆(道格·休切逊 Doug Hutchison 饰)的神秘人现身城内,他不但有着和比利一样信念,而且他的手法更离谱——他不但要统一黑帮,还要干掉其他帮派的黑帮头目,做城内真正的寡头老大,甚至他还向惩罚者下了挑战书,要将他置于死地!惩罚者在追查的过程中,渐渐发现了吉姆的真实身份,这令他大吃一惊……
In the time of Counter-Reformation, a miller and his son come under investigation by a priest of the Inquisition, when rumors spread that their prosperity comes from working with the Devil. The Devil's Trap is a film directed by František Vlá?il, based on a novel by Alfréd Technik, adapted by František A. Dvorák and Miloš Kratochvíl. It was the first of three historical dramas that Vlá?il made during the Czech New Wave (technically he isn't really a part of the New Wave, however these films were made during the same era of artistic freedom), preceding his more well known Marketa Lazarová (1967) and Valley of the Bees (1968). Set in the late 16th Century during the Catholic Reformation, in the Moravian Karst, situated in what is now the Eastern Czech Republic, it tells the tale of a miller (Vítezslav Vejrazka), and his son Jan (Vít Olmer), who come under suspicion and are investigated by a Jesuit priest of the Inquisition (Miroslav Macháchek), when rumors of witchcraft are spread by the local regent (Cestmír Randa), who is jealous of the miller's prosperity and degree of respect among the local populace. As expected from Vlá?il, this film is a stunning experience all the way through. From the opening shot, an ominous manipulation of perspective with a close up of a mangled figure of Christ dominating the foreground against a tiny figure in black walking along the horizon, to the breathtaking confrontational finale inside the vast stalactite filled Karst caverns, it is a wonderful display of visual mastery. Maybe not quite as impressive as Marketa Lazarová, but still full of astonishing imagery. As seen from unique angles and distinct points of view which highlight the director's remarkable sense of awareness of framing, motion, and positioning on the emotional and dramatic tone of the scene. The most memorable being a repeated shot where the camera is suspended and launched with speed through the air towards the miller's door. The story here is a simple one and I would say more accessible than his later works. With a conventional structure emphasized as much by its plot and characters, than by its expressionistic cinematography or authentic historical detail. The events play out without much surprise, and there is a strong underlying, almost supernatural, mysterious aspect that is left unresolved, in fact barely explored, which is slightly disappointing, but only because it's so fascinating that I wish there was more. Acting is great all around. Particularly the villains: Miroslav Macháchek as the priest, casting a sinister and imposing shadow wherever he goes, and Cestmír Randa as the weasel like regent behind all the persecution. While Vít Olmer brings a charismatic leading man presence in his role as the miller's son Jan, in love with the lovely orphan girl Martina (Karla Chadimová), who becomes a dangerous object of rivalry between Jan and other young men of the village. The film also features the evocative music of Zden?k Liška (perhaps the most prolific composer of the Czech New Wave). In this his second of eleven collaborations with Vlá?il, his compositions are used sparingly, but to great effect, complimenting but never overpowering a scene. The best example of which can be heard in an amazingly shot celebration and dance sequence at the end of the second act. The Devil's Trap might not be a masterpiece, but it is still a strong effort, with a fascinating straightforward story and a glorious historical setting captured beautifully by Vlá?il's unmistakable visual prowess. A fine work that would also be the perfect starter plate to prepare yourself for the challenging feast of Marketa Lazarová or The Valley of the Bees. It even has an easy to digest running time. It's therefore puzzling why this gem remains largely overlooked and ignored.
一桩残忍凶案悄然发生在偏远的西部村寨,憨包汽修工宋老二被警方推为首要疑凶。这让本来萍水相逢的三人:憨包汽修工宋老二、落魄古惑仔王友全、夜总会领班董小凤命运彼此牵连在一起,在荒蛮西部上演了一场充满嬉笑怒骂的黑色逃杀。