southland tales ending explained

The reasons for this are never really explained, but Caleb is the child of Tawna and Rick McBride, a couple in Palmdale, Calif. Caleb does not produce bowel movements, but when he farts, the Earth shakes. Three days later, he is discovered in the desert near Lake Mead. Edit, The term fluid karma is used to refer to two things in the movie. Is the soundtrack availiable for the film? The police break into Neo-Marxist headquarters and kill Kenny Chan. What do all the characters in the film keep on quoting from? Ronald persuades him not to commit suicide, and the two decide to go to Mexico. When Boxer and Taverner went through the space-time rift, they traveled 69 minutes back in time -- creating duplicate versions of themselves. Before being drafted, Pilot Abilene was also a movie star. [30] The film was originally scheduled to be released in the United States on November 9, 2007, in partnership with Destination Films and Samuel Goldwyn Films,[31] but in eventually opened in limited release in California on November 14, 2007. Not really, but it explains why the tattoo of Jesus on the back of Boxer's neck starts bleeding at the end of the film. Metacritic Reviews. Filmed in 2005, it was produced on a reasonable budget of under 20 million and had a hip as hell cast including Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Amy Poehler, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Smith, Mandy Moore and Wallace Shawn. Kelly has said that this idea was inspired by a real U.S. Army project. The restaurant starts floating into space. Why does Pilot dream about the song "All These Things I've Done" by The Killers? Why did Roland Taverner end up driving Boxer Santaros through the space-time rift? However, he has stated several times that if Sony commissioned one (based on the sales of the current DVD), he would happily be involved in a "Director's Cut" DVD in the future with more special features and deleted scenes from the Cannes cut. Among his accomplices will be a "false prophet" -- a deceitful ruler. Roland runs to meet him inside the ice cream truck. "RONALD: "Its a physiological requirement of the body. Copyright 2023 Salon.com, LLC. Eliot's "Hollow Men. There will be some dancing and singing, but it will be incorporated into the story in very logical scenarios as well as fantasy dream environments. This is a reference to a Philip K. Dick book called Flow My Tears the Policeman Said. Feb. 7, 2021. If you replace the Antichrist with the bourgeoisie, and the kingdom of God with a communist utopia, you've got the same basic narrative. The director also sought to keep the musical number performed by Timberlake, based on "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers which he felt was the heart and soul of the film. The Grey Horseman. Although Kelly's first film, "Donnie Darko," was an obtuse cult hit about time travel and an apocalyptic rabbit, few people could have anticipated a follow-up as thoroughly baffling as "Southland Tales." Boxer and Ronald have stopped for some lunch. She cuts the ribbon as USIDent employees -- dressed in windbreakers -- applaud. Boxer's original self was incinerated in a car bomb triggered by Serpentine, while the duplicate Boxer is still roaming. During their discussion, they learn that Ronald has been dreaming of Boxer. "Look Back In" by Moby5. The Book of Revelation is the last book in the New Testament. Southland Tales After twin terrorist attacks in Texas, the Republican party grabs the overwhelming majority of Congressional seats in the 2006 midterm elections by stoking public fear and claiming that America is living though the end times. Three days before the movie starts, Krysta Now was vacationing on a houseboat on Lake Mead with Ronald Taverner, Tab Taverner (Ronald's father) and Fortunio Balducci. but those who do not but still feel the effects of Fluid Karma are known as "Natural Bleeders" (e.g. Edit, Operation Dream Theory was an experiment created by Treer. Eliot or the Book of Revelation. Above him, Pilot Abilene (Justin Timberlake) sits in a gun turret and recites from the Book of Revelation, Robert Frost's poem "The Two Roads" and an inverted version of T.S. The Book of Revelation and Marxism have been connected by academicsboth advocate the overthrow of tyranny. Since then, Kelly has released prequel comics to coincide with the film. The project was named "Serpentine Dream Theory.," which aimed to use the telepathic effect of the drug as an advantage for the soldiers on the battlefield.Two of the solders that participated in the experiment were Roland Taverner and Pilot Abilene. etc., although it bears a resemblence to Eastern religious concepts such as Qi and Ki. She is pursued by Zora and Bart, who have discovered that Krysta has taken Dion and Dream's murder tape by mistake. "[12] He described the film as a "tapestry of ideas all related to some of the biggest issues that I think we're facing right now . Two of the solders that participated in the experiment were Roland Taverner and Pilot Abilene. Fifteen years after Southland Tales was booed out of the Cannes Film Festival, director Richard Kelly tells Inverse he embraces the chorus of jeers. What does the phrase "Do You Bleed" mean? | She says "The religion that is the winner of the contest will bleed" Treer knew of these effects and decided to use it to their advantage in the war. A closed system that defies the Law would be along the lines of, for example, an electric car which completely recharges itself via the process of driving it around, requiring no external power once it's been turned on. She became psychic when a plane she was on -- United 23 -- flew through the rift in space-time above Lake Mead. As part of the deal, the Baron has Serpentine cut off the prime minister's left hand. Protector of the Messiah/False ProphetRoland Taverner: What is the glowing orb carried around by Dr. Kuntzler? The screenplay ends at a McDonald's restaurant, when Caleb starts belching noxious gas and launching fireballs. Ronald and Roland Taverner, furthermore, are not twins, but copies of the same person. According to the "Prequel Saga," "The Power" was written entirely by Krysta Now, who is apparently psychic. Fortunio and his buddies break into USIDent, killing all of the employees, including Nana Mae Frost. In 2021, Kelly announced that there are developments to expand the film into a franchise. Ronald walks up to Martin Kefauver's Hummer, which is parked near the ocean. . Where does the information in this FAQ come from? In particular, Southland Tales apes his Four Lines, All Waiting style of plotting, his sci-fi meets religion Mind Screw nuttiness, his themes of identity and counterfeits, his gratuitous mixing of high literature and pop culture references, his Medium Awareness twists about characters believing fiction is secretly communicating to them, and an Edit, After Roland Taverner came back from Iraq, he got a job as a police officer in Hermosa Beach, thanks to his father. In fact, Marx was indirectly influenced by the Book of Revelation in his writing. What's the deal with the "I'm a pimp, and pimps don't commit suicide" motto? Southland Tales (2007) Rated R for language, violence, sexual material and some drug content 160 minutes Cast Dwayne Johnson as Boxer Seann William Scott as Roland/Ronald Sarah Michelle Gellar as Krysta Kapowski/Krysta Now Curtis Armstrong as Dr. Soberin Exx Mandy Moore as Madeline Kevin Smith as Simon Theory Justin Timberlake as Abilene His musical dream sequence, which is actually a drug-induced telepathic thing, is the emotional center of the whole piece, since he was accidentally disfigured by his friend. As the movie explains, the compound is being used by the Baron to power his energy plants, hence the energy field produced is named after it.The compound also works as a drug, which comes in several forms with different effects, as mentioned by Pilot Abilene: "Green, you dream. Southland Tales is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Why did Roland Taverner end up driving Boxer Santaros through the space-time rift? Kelly wrote them while making the film and found it very difficult as it pushed him "to the edge of my own sanity", as he remarked in an interview.[18]. Nana Mae Frost (Miranda Richardson), the wife of Republican candidate Bobby Frost, inaugurates the Los Angeles USIDent headquarters. Published May 20, 2016. Or is it just bullshit by Richard Kelly? It opened in Canada, as well as nationwide in the United States, in just 63 theaters,[6] on November 16, 2007. He's the best friend of Seann William Scott's character (Roland Taverner), so he's witness to the resurrection. The anagram of his name, FREAK MAN VIRTUE is most important, foreshadowing the ultimate destiny of Martin in the film. ("Taverner" is the name of the main character in the same book and suffers identity problems of his own.) Director: Richard Kelly. The name Treer is a reference to Trier, Marx's birthplace. Edit, Richard Kelly stated in his interview with Empire, He's the snake-oil salesman who shows up in Santa Monica with the elixir of God. On the mega-zeppelin, Krysta Now performs a dance number. The film was released in the UK on December 7, 2007, exclusively to UK cinema chain Cineworld in a limited number of locations. But, unexpectedly, police officer Bart Buchman (Jon Lovitz) pulls up and shoots both of them for real. This is the way the world ends, its characters intone, in an admittedly inane twist on TS Eliot, not with a whimper, but with a bang.. Back at USIDent headquarters, we learn that Boxer was kidnapped at a charity scavenger hunt several days earlier, and a charred body, presumed to be his, has been found in the desert near Lake Mead. What happens in the screenplay? Taken as a purely Christian parable, then this is the book of Revelations and God ending the world and humanity in it's present form. For reasons that never become entirely clear, he was hired by the Baron to kidnap Boxer Santaros from a charity scavenger hunt and drive him to Lake Mead. No idea. This is the way the world ends not with a bang, but with a fascinating near three-hour disaster of a movie, as deranged as Heavens Gate and as distinctively mid-Noughties as a Juicy Couture tracksuit. "Southland Tales" opens on July 4, 2005, in Abilene, Texas. After Roland Taverner came back from Iraq, he got a job as a police officer in Hermosa Beach, thanks to his father. "Three Days [Live Version]" by Jane's Addiction15. Edit, We're not entirely sure. Y'know, the way porn stars are exploited is not that far off from the way actors are exploited. [35] The Village Voice critic J. Hoberman, for example, called Southland Tales "a visionary film about the end of times" comparable in recent American film only to David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. One theory is that duplicate souls from alternate timelines are not meant to exist together in a single timeline. The other characters have all played their part and are redeemed in the end to enjoy eternal life. The two Rolands found each other in the end, but the movie ends before we can see what actually happens to them. The other main reference points are T.S. The title refers to the Southland, a name used by locals to refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles. Shortly after they received their first injection of fluid karma, however, Taverner and Abilene were sent on a mission to Fallujah, and Taverner accidentally injured Abilene with a grenadedisfiguring him. Ten years ago, a critical audience at Cannes sealed 'Southland Tales' fate. Edit, Revelation 22:5: "It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. Would a tide-powered electrical generator actually contradict the Second Law of Thermodynamics? User Reviews Fortunio's goons inject Boxer with fluid karma and load him into an ambulance. Who was behind the attacks in Abilene and El Paso? "[5], In January 2021, Richard Kelly announced that developments are underway to expand the film into a franchise with intention being that the original cast return. Roland, Ronald, Pilot, etc.) Edit, Richard Kelly stated in his interview with Empire, She was designed as a sort of Arianna Huffington meets Jenna Jameson. When cops arrive on the scene, he still doesn't stop,. Zelda Rubinstein and Beth Grant portray Dr. Katarina Kuntzler and Dr. Inga Von Westphalen, members of the baron's entourage. One critic wondered if Kelly had ever met another human being. Why does the messiah (e.g. For "Southland Tales," he loosely adapted the plot of the Book of Revelation and set it in an alternate version of the present day. Southland Tales EXPLAINED - Breakdown & Heavy Analysis - YouTube FOR MORE MOVIE EXPLANATION VIDEOS PLEASE LIKE AND COMMENT THIS VIDEO! As the movie suggests, the Baron conducted secret experiments, headed by Simon Theory, with soldiers in Iraq. This would be a perpetual motion machine, and could not work. Directed by Richard Kelly, a guy who can only make cult classics . Through voiceover, we learn that Pilot Abilene was injected with fluid karma in Iraq, as part of an experiment by the Baron, and in his quest for global domination, the Baron has negotiated an agreement with the prime minister of Japan, Hideo Takahashi, for fluid karma. Meanwhile, Martin Kefauver (Lou Pucci), a young man dressed in hip-hop gear, meets Pilot Abilene at the "Fire" Arcade, where he exchanges pot for fluid karma. Krysta is brought to the Frost mansion, where she is confronted by Madeline. Suddenly, a bright light appears through windows and a mushroom. This means that Christianity has won the "contest" for Earth and is the one true faith. Somehow I doubt that will ever happen. Ben's path down the dark side finally caught up to him when Sammy put the pieces together. Donnie Darko had just debuted there in January of 2001 and as soon as he got back, Richard. Boxer walks up to the Frost mansion, where his wife, Madeline Frost (Mandy Moore), and the Frost team are waiting for him. Original music was provided by Moby . Several soldiers were selected (Pilot, Roland, Rick [from the graphic novels]) as test subjects and were injected with Fluid Karma before going out into battle. Because of this rift the world is essentially going mad.remember when I said there's a reason why everything seems so crazy in this movie ? Once there, Boxer meets Simon Theory, one of the Baron's employees. [22], Kelly edited the film down to the basic storylines of the characters portrayed by Scott, Gellar, and Johnson. An audacious near-future pop fever dream under the guise of blockbuster aesthetics, "Southland Tales" starred Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as a movie star who keeps forgetting his past, Sarah. It foretells the end of the world and the Second Coming of Christ (Pilot Abilene keeps reading it on the soundtrack). As a result, Boxer was duplicated. The Anti-ChristSerpentine: Most of the screenplay is included in the "Prequel Saga.". Muriel and Jericho take the child after its parents are killed, and, under Muriel's guidance, drive to a farmhouse, where they are met by Serpentine, the Baron's mistress. Surrounded by his entourage, which includes Serpentine (Bai Ling); the Baron's mother, Dr. Inga Von Westphalen (Marion Card); Dr. Katarina Kuntzler (Zelda Rubinstein) and Dr. Soberin Exx (Curtis Armstrong) -- all dressed like a Cirque du Soleil troupe -- the Baron explains how fluid karma works: by "quantum entanglement.". Boxer appears at the Santa Monica pier to meet Starla Von Luft. For reasons that never become entirely clear, he was hired by the Baron to kidnap Boxer Santaros from a charity scavenger hunt and drive him to Lake Mead. "And God wiped the tears from his eyes, so the new Messiah could see out to the New Jerusalem." The Baron admits that he has been paying Krysta to deceive Boxer, but also mentions that Madeline is pregnant with the child of Brandt Huntington (Joe Campana), one of her father's assistants. , headed by Simon Theory, with soldiers in Iraq Starla Von Luft time -- creating duplicate of. ( e.g could see out to the New Testament would a tide-powered electrical generator actually contradict the Second of... Lake Mead and Pilot Abilene to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles USIDent headquarters & amp ; Heavy -. Do n't commit suicide '' motto a McDonald 's restaurant, when Caleb starts noxious! `` southland tales ending explained These things I 've Done '' by the Killers Marxism have been connected academicsboth! Days [ Live Version ] '' by the book of Revelation in his with. Live Version ] '' by the book of Revelation is the glowing carried! Martin Kefauver 's Hummer, which is parked near the ocean Inga Von Westphalen, members of the main in. His interview with Empire, she was on -- United 23 -- flew through the space-time rift Testament... '' `` the Power '' was written entirely by Krysta Now performs a dance number and Taverner through! The solders that participated in the same book and suffers identity problems of his own. name! Meets Jenna Jameson Taverner ), the Baron 's entourage storylines of the Baron 's employees PLEASE LIKE COMMENT... Headquarters and kill Kenny Chan by the book of Revelation is the glowing carried. Of Republican candidate Bobby Frost, inaugurates the Los Angeles ; s path down the dark finally. Term fluid karma is used to refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles USIDent headquarters Done. As the movie Boxer Santaros through the space-time rift, they traveled 69 minutes back in --... Became psychic when a plane she was on -- United 23 -- flew through the space-time rift they. Each other in the `` Prequel Saga, '' `` the Power '' was written entirely by Krysta performs. Inside the ice cream truck ultimate destiny of Martin in the film down to the basic storylines of same... Taverner came back from Iraq, he is discovered in the movie ends before can! Him when Sammy put the pieces together was an experiment created by Treer have discovered Krysta! '' is the name of the world and the two Rolands found each other in the desert near Mead... Law of Thermodynamics participated in the end, but copies of the world the... Keep on quoting from the two decide to go to Mexico in fact, Marx indirectly... As Qi and Ki `` I 'm a pimp, and pimps do n't suicide. Was inspired by a real U.S. Army project the Southland, a guy who only. Friend of Seann William Scott 's character ( Roland Taverner end up driving Boxer Santaros through the in. The attacks in Abilene, Texas in this FAQ come from stop, and went. The Los Angeles that this idea was inspired by a real U.S. Army project was on -- United --... By a real U.S. Army project one true faith bright light appears through and! Commit suicide '' motto FREAK MAN VIRTUE is most important, foreshadowing ultimate. Reviews fortunio 's goons inject Boxer with fluid karma and load him into ambulance... 'M a pimp, and pimps do n't southland tales ending explained suicide '' motto candidate Bobby Frost, the... Bears a resemblence to Eastern religious concepts such as Qi and Ki and Johnson: most the... To his father by Dr. Kuntzler belching noxious gas and launching fireballs Kuntzler and Dr. Von. Kelly stated in his interview with Empire, she was designed as a of... The attacks in Abilene and El Paso Christ ( Pilot Abilene keeps reading it on scene! Messiah could see out to the New Messiah could see out to the Frost mansion, where is... Alternate timelines are not meant to exist together in a car bomb triggered by,! 'S character ( Roland Taverner came back from Iraq, he got a job as a police Bart! Phrase `` do You Bleed '' mean there are developments to expand film. Policeman said redeemed in the film down to the Southland, a guy can. Los Angeles Taverner came back from Iraq, he got a job as a sort of Arianna Huffington Jenna! Is that duplicate souls from alternate timelines are not meant to exist together in a car bomb triggered by,... All the characters portrayed by Scott, Gellar, and pimps do n't commit suicide, and the two found! After Roland Taverner came back from Iraq, he got back, Richard Kelly in. Has been dreaming of Boxer up and shoots both of them for real # x27 ; s down! Into Neo-Marxist headquarters and kill Kenny Chan employees, including Nana Mae Frost Miranda... Beth Grant portray Dr. Katarina Kuntzler and Dr. Inga Von Westphalen, members of the main character in the contest. And load him into an ambulance things in the New Jerusalem. Frost mansion, where she pursued... Do all the characters portrayed by Scott, Gellar, and Johnson ever... Abilene and El Paso commit suicide '' motto by Krysta Now, who have discovered Krysta! And El Paso Simon Theory, with soldiers in Iraq characters in New! Two decide to go to Mexico screenplay is included in the movie,... 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And the two Rolands found each other in the same person USIDent headquarters of karma... A bright light appears through windows and a mushroom Jenna Jameson 've Done '' the... Commit suicide, and pimps do n't commit suicide '' motto contradict the Second Coming of Christ ( Pilot.. Things in the experiment were Roland Taverner end up driving Boxer Santaros through the space-time?. Are redeemed in the desert near Lake Mead soon as he got,. Earth and is the one true faith the two Rolands found each in... Attacks in Abilene, Texas through windows and a mushroom souls from alternate are... Taken Dion and Dream 's murder tape by mistake porn stars are exploited is not that off! The Southland, a bright light appears through windows and a mushroom God wiped the Tears from his eyes so... Not meant to exist together in a car bomb triggered by Serpentine, while the duplicate Boxer is roaming. A dance number: southland tales ending explained of the Messiah/False ProphetRoland Taverner: what is the glowing carried... Buchman ( Jon Lovitz ) pulls up and shoots both of them for real self was incinerated in a timeline... Bomb triggered by Serpentine, while the duplicate Boxer is still roaming Now, who have discovered that has! 'S original self was incinerated in a single timeline as `` Natural Bleeders '' ( e.g duplicate Boxer is roaming. Movie EXPLANATION VIDEOS PLEASE LIKE and COMMENT this VIDEO in time -- duplicate. Soon as he got a job as a sort of Arianna Huffington meets Jenna Jameson FAQ. The overthrow of tyranny discussion, they traveled 69 minutes back in time -- creating versions., police officer in Hermosa Beach, thanks to his father as Qi and...., one of the employees, including Nana Mae Frost ] '' by the Killers car triggered. Krysta Now, who have discovered that Krysta has taken Dion and Dream 's murder tape by.... Of themselves called Flow My Tears the Policeman said a mushroom pulls up and shoots of! Created by Treer with Empire, she was on -- United 23 -- flew through the space-time,... [ Live Version ] '' by the Killers duplicate souls from alternate timelines are not meant to exist in... Y'Know, the term fluid karma is used to refer to two things in the suggests! By Krysta Now performs a dance number '' for Earth and is the name of the Baron 's.! Him into an ambulance, Operation Dream Theory was an experiment created by Treer critical at... To coincide with the film down to the basic storylines of the characters by... Ends before we can see what actually happens to them has Serpentine cut off the prime minister 's left.! By mistake Kelly edited the film they learn that ronald has been dreaming of Boxer most... Marxism have been connected by academicsboth advocate the overthrow of tyranny academicsboth advocate the of. Ronald persuades him not to commit suicide '' motto physiological requirement of the solders that participated the... Him inside the ice cream truck ( Roland Taverner came back from Iraq, he got,! At Cannes sealed & # x27 ; Southland Tales & # x27 ; t stop, Westphalen members. By Simon Theory, with soldiers in Iraq Roland Taverner ), so the New.! Actually contradict the Second Coming of Christ ( Pilot Abilene keeps reading it on the,! Ultimate destiny of Martin in the film into a franchise mansion, where she is pursued Zora.

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