Review by Quin
Imagine Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as directed by Ken Russell. I think it’s pretty safe to say that would be a puzzling yet effectively strange film filled with startling visuals and powerful symbolism. In what I find to be the most surprising film I’ve seen this year, Mr. Jones takes us down that road to a philosophical dreamscape that is never boring, and it doesn’t get too bogged down by doing the things that we are conditioned to think these kinds of movies are supposed to do. The structure is very free-flowing and in a way, stream of consciousness. This will undoubtedly turn off many viewers who might prefer things a little more cut and dry. But if you are okay with something different that is thought provoking and eerie as hell, then you will definitely want to see this movie.
The first line of dialogue in Mr. Jones is, “What does the map say?” Which I believe is designed to trick you into thinking that this is just another typical found footage film. A brief discussion that suggests they may not know where they are going lasts only a few seconds and it has an almost sarcastic tone that serves as a wink to the viewer. Scott and Penny are the couple at the center of this film, and they are headed to a remote location so Scott can make a documentary. It is quickly revealed that Scott doesn’t have any clue as to what his film is going to be about and just to make things even more interesting, he has stopped taking his medication (it’s not clear what the medication is for, but I am guessing it’s probably for bi-polar disorder). Penny is irritated with this news. They have a little argument about it, but all is forgotten as soon as they stumble upon these creepy looking scarecrow-like totems.
Penny recognizes the look of the figures from a book she has. She tells Scott that they are the work of a reclusive artist/shaman/enigma known as Mr. Jones, “It’s like we’re living next door to J.D. Salinger or Banksy.” Her excitement transfers over to Scott and now he has a subject for his documentary. Scott leaves Penny alone in the middle of nowhere with the creepy artist guy lurking around while he flies off to New York to track down and interview some experts who know something about Mr. Jones. A few of them are big wig art dealer types, but there is this one guy who claims to have received one of Mr. Jones’ totems in the mail and ever since he has been plagued by horrific nightmares. He is gravely serious when talking to Scott and offers a not-so-nice word of warning.
When Scott returns, things start to get weird. I won’t say too much more about it, but I will say that Mr. Jones is kind of like the thinking man’s Freddy Krueger. The lines of reality are blurred; and the waking world and dream world becomes interchangeable. Don’t expect many answers to the hows and the whys. I would suggest just enjoying the final third of the film for the visual ride that it takes you on. There is a bit of the shaky cam disorientation that we have come to expect from found footage films, but since it’s all being shot by a professional, we get a much more interesting look at things. It’s the shifting of reality that is more disorienting than anything; but I enjoyed the complexity and strangeness of the challenge.
While I did say that Mr. Jones is the most surprising film I’ve seen all year, it’s definitely not the best. There are problems with the pacing of the film, particularly in the first half. And the ending is somewhat unsatisfying. But I think it’s one of those films you’ll either get or you won’t. I think the interest I already had in philosophy, mythology, art and dreams had a lot to do with my enjoyment of the film. It’s important to remember that each person’s experience of a film isn’t just what they see on screen. You bring with you all of your knowledge and experiences to a film viewing and those things determine how you interpret everything below the surface. Judging purely on what the film gives you to work with – every single performance in the film feels natural and real. This is the best place for a found footage film to start. Almost all of them have someone that doesn’t quite deliver their lines in a way that doesn’t remind you that they’re acting and what you are seeing isn’t real. Mr. Jones feels real and if you think so too, it will probably get inside your head and under your skin.
Mr. Jones is available on Region 1 DVD from Anchor Bay and it is streaming on Netflix in the US.