Southland Tales (2006)
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A dystopian portrait of Los Angeles explores a global fuel crisis and a rift in the space-time continuum following twin nuclear attacks.
The story
Following twin nuclear attacks in Texas that trigger World War III, the U.S. government establishes a draconian mass surveillance agency called US-IDENT. Amidst a global fuel crisis, a German company creates 'Fluid Karma,' an inexhaustible energy generator. In 2008 Los Angeles, right-wing action star Boxer Santaros awakens with amnesia and begins an affair with psychic ex-porn star Krysta Now. Meanwhile, a Neo-Marxist underground plots to destabilize the government, coercing the amnesiac Boxer into a staged police brutality incident involving kidnapped twins, eventually sparking massive city-wide riots.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After twin nuclear attacks in Texas trigger World War III and the creation of the surveillance agency US-IDENT, the German company Treer develops 'Fluid Karma,' an energy source intended for world domination by Baron Von Westphalen. In 2008 Los Angeles, amnesiac action star Boxer Santaros begins an affair with psychic ex-porn star Krysta Now while Neo-Marxists attempt to frame a kidnapped officer, Roland Taverner, for a staged crime. A rogue cop's interference leads to a video leak that ignites city-wide riots. As the elite flee on Von Westphalen's Mega-Zeppelin, scientists reveal that Treer's experiments created a space-time rift. Boxer discovers he is his own future self, having traveled back in time while his past self died. The scientists warn that physical contact between identical souls will cause an apocalyptic cataclysm. On the ground, Roland and Ronald (who are actually the same person from different timelines) grasp hands, causing them to levitate as a massive time rift opens. An anti-draft insurgent fires a missile at the zeppelin, killing Boxer and the elites. Pilot Abilene narrates the dawning of a new age with Roland as its messiah.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 144
- Production countries
- United States; Germany
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Kelly
- Writers
- Richard Kelly · writer; Richard Kelly · director
- Cast and characters
- Dwayne Johnson · Boxer Santaros; Seann William Scott · Officer Roland Taverner / Private Ronald Taverner; Sarah Michelle Gellar · Krysta Now / Krysta Lynn Kapowski; Mandy Moore · Madeline Frost Santaros; Nora Dunn · Cyndi Pinziki; Christopher Lambert · Walter Mung; John Larroquette · Vaughn Smallhouse; Bai Ling · Serpentine
- Genres
- dystopian; black comedy; thriller
- Themes
- civil liberties; homeland security; celebrity culture; military-industrial complex; infotainment
- Tone and mood
- dystopian; black comedy; manic; scattered
- Premise and plot tags
- nuclear attack; World War III; mass surveillance; time travel; apocalyptic; alternate history
- Franchise connections
- Southland Tales
- Reception
- The film polarized critics, who responded unfavorably to its running time and sprawling nature, though it developed a cult following.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 41% · scale: 100% · review count: 106; Metacritic · score: 44 · scale: 100 · review count: 26
- Production trivia
- The film was originally planned to be a nine-part interactive experience with graphic novels.; Richard Kelly wrote the film shortly before the September 11 attacks.; The film's title refers to the 'Southland,' a name used by locals for the Greater Los Angeles area.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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