Napoleon Dynamite – 2004, Jared Hess
‘Napoleon Dynamite’ is a memorable and unique movie. So much has gone into the production design, the costume and props are so well chosen. The film is one of ‘New Sincerity’, which is in itself a huge topic. ‘New Sincerity’, simply put, is storytelling that is sincere, that doesn’t mean realism or truth, it means it feels true. ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ does not in anyway look like the world ever has, but it feels like how the world felt in the past. It is a memory. The bright, simplified colours and the garish patterns, the clear blue skies, it all feels genuine, even if it’s so obviously false. It reminds me a lot of my childhood in Florida, the bright light and stark shadow, the school bus, the wide streets. The other major selling point for the film is characters so unique, yet so damn irritating. Most people know a Napoleon, a character you feel pity for, but can see he clearly brings his loner lifestyle on himself. He is best described as pathetic, but you see though the film there is a sweet side to him, and also a defensive one. He tends to exaggerate, or downright lie about himself, again a quality most people encounter in life. The plot is thin; Napoleon goes through a typical high school life of lessons, dances and class president elections, while he and his even more pathetic brother are looked after by Uncle Rico, a failed football player who dreams of travelling through time back to 1982. The election is the major story, but this doesn’t kick in until late on in the film, the vast majority of it is just life at that time for these characters. It is a testament to a life, maybe not yours but it comes across as real. Writer and director Jared Hess has gone on to make the more mainstream and less well received ‘Nacho Libre’, a film I’ve not seen, but if you have it may give some idea of the kind of style this film achieves. I can see easily why you could hate this film; its characters are quite un-likeable, it’s slow, it doesn’t say much, and if your life was in no way like Napoleon’s you may have real trouble connecting to the protagonist. But if you enjoy quirky, original film making, you should defiantly see this film, it might surprise you.
Best moment: Napoleon is running out of time to collect his “woman that he’s taking to the dance”. He runs into the middle of nowhere only to be picked up by best friend Pedro’s cousin in a pimped out low rider. The best music and line follow. (Also Napoleon is looking frickin’ sweet in an incredible suit)
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