Weekly Review -- Food for thought

Red Lights (2012) -- The world of cinema has frequently underestimated the concept of paranormal phenomena, almost always reveling in its sensationalist aspects and not in its mystery potential. Taking the conventional thriller out for a spin and getting rid of clichés, this Rodrigo Cortés film is a unique and refreshing take on the topic.

Psychologist Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and physicist Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy) have dedicated their careers to debunking supernatural marvels. Once they hear that renowned psychic Simon Silver (Robert De Niro) is making a comeback, Tom sees a chance to make history by discrediting him, while Margaret is more cautious, considering the effect that the charismatic medium has on his audiences. When Tom presses on, Silver fights back in a cunning, sinister way...

One of the most appealing aspects of the film are its moody, often tenebrous hues. Cinematographer Xavi Giménez bathes the scenes in rainy monochromes that play with the narrative's solemn unpredictability. This is no cheery fairytale; rather, it is a story of what could possibly be found beyond our surroundings, beyond our beliefs and certainly beyond our reach. Writer and director Cortés toys with the numerous riddles he presents, giving an ominous purpose to occasionally incandescent visuals and utilizing the characters' dilemmas to a philosophical effect. Is there a right and wrong, truth and lie, or simply the known and the unknown? Can we challenge or negate the existence of an entire universe if we cannot or, even worse, refuse to understand it? These are the questions posed by the eloquent screenplay, one that always keeps the viewers on their toes and one that never takes the easy way out. It slightly veers off course during the second half, what with Buckley's prolonged quest, but manages to return to its roots with a bang.

The acting is terrific. Weaver's Dr. Matheson is an earnest, sympathetic skeptic who has been dragged into various dimensions of grief and absurdity by too many charlatans. Having seen it all, she is too far gone to allow herself to believe anything beyond the human realm of understanding, a realm that seems to be a cocoon for her more than anything else. Murphy is fantastic as Buckley, who digs deeper and deeper into Silver's career without any concern as to what he may eventually find. He is a picture of dogged tenacity, while De Niro's Silver is a picture of dogged conviction. He complements Buckley's character in his manic persuasion, rendering every encounter between Buckley and Silver into a duel between two forces on opposing sides of the cosmos.   

Red Lights is unlike other similarly themed thrillers, mainly due to its sharp characterizations and true sense of wonder. Turning the game of life as we know it upside down, it dares to question awareness and perception in a creative and erudite manner. Impressive and underrated, Red Lights is a gem that smashes audiences' expectations, making the film a debate-worthy piece long after the glow has dimmed.   

8/10