Rating of
3.5/4
There's no act here...
Jacob Zembower - wrote on 07/25/13
Joshua Oppenheimer's new documentary, with executive producers by Werner Herzog and Errol Morris, is like nothing you have ever seen before, and nothing you would ever want to see again. This is next-level film making, documentary or otherwise, that left my jaw agape and my mind reeling. The focus of Anwar Congo, a grandfather and film maker, who also happens to be a mass murder back in the 60s, having killed 1000 people. He's a fascinating character to watch, and also quite sickening. With his potentially pedophile/drag queen friend at his side in Herman Koto, as well as Adi Amin, amongst other mass murderers who would kill "communists". Oppenheimer asks these atrocious human beings to reenact sequences of their killings in any style of film making they want. Some feature film noir, others musicals, and others just nothing but brutal mass murdering. While also recreating interrogation. Anwar, with a smile on his face, shows us how he'd execute hundreds of people (men, women, and children) by using piano wire. The Act of Killing is a horrific, sickening, infuriating, and deeply disturbing view into the Indonesian thug life, and the organizations that keep it going today (and yes the US government is involved as well). Will these men ever find justice? No. I felt ashamed to be apart of the human race after watching this. A little editing on Oppenheimer's part would have gone a long way. But this is essential viewing for any fan of documentaries. It's important, even if you can't quite fathom what you are watching. Gruesome and hard to take, to say the least. This is masterful and unforgettable, even if you may want to forget it. The ending is especially haunting, as Anwar begins to realize maybe what he has done is wrong and becomes violently,demonically, physically ill. It's quite a sight to behold, but then again so is the entire experience. Don't miss it. (Not Rated- but contains strong disturbing content and images, graphic descriptions of rape, murder and torture, and for language throughout)
