Saw Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, an extremely post-modern film about (as far as I can tell from the film) a rambling novel written as if it were an autobiography that interrupts itself, runs backwards and forwards in time, comments on the writing of the book and all manner of narrative goofiness. In the spirit of this, the film itself follows the actors playing the lead roles, the behind-the-scenes drama of filming, re-filming, and rewriting the movie, even explaining (in voice-over) that an extended version of this scene will be available on the DVD. This is a film after my own heart.
The film is extremely messy. It's hard to parse what the film is about, however one character is a film buff and seems to spell out in one scene what the point of it all is, but of course they're just a character in the film, so who knows. Perhaps their explanation is ironically skewed for comic effect. The point (if we are to take their word for it) is that life is messy and difficult but that our futile efforts to combat this are noble and should be praised. A neat little message from a messy film.
Although the theme of the film resonated with me, the execution did not. I found it a tad dry and restrained for a comedy. Then again these high-wire self-referential films often have to be a bit dry in order to not confuse the audience (cf. Charlie Kaufman's work) so perhaps it's forgivable. It was sort of a slog at parts though. The last scenes, which happen during the credits, are almost the most fun. The two main actors just sit and joke with each other. Their chumminess is a bit contrived, but they are amiable and likable.
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