Director Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Genre Adventure | Comedy | Drama
Cast Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, Timothy Eulich
Rating R
Release Date June 24th, 2016
“A hopeless man stranded in the wilderness befriends a dead body and together they go on a surreal journey to get home.”
Swiss Army Man is directed and written by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, also known as Daniels shown on screen at the start of the film. The directing and writing duo took home the coveted Directing Award when the film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Swiss Army Man is said to be the work of some extremely wild and crazy imaginations, bringing together a variety of unique elements to the film industry. The film stars Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Swiss Army Man is a perfect example of filmmaking as a true art form, thought provoking and unique to its very core. I first experienced the trailer for the film at the theater 2 or 3 months ago and wasn't sure what to think, but I was intrigued. After finally seeing it, I honestly wasn't sure how to wrap my brain around this bizarre film. How someone was able to come up with something so absurd is baffling to be quite honest (obviously it's a good thing). Considering the far-fetched premise, I was genuinely impressed by how real the film felt. The characters truly came to life (sort of) and I felt a closeness to the events that were unfolding right before my eyes. The film was actually quite a bit funnier than I expected in a quirky sort of way, which felt like a nice touch and contributed to the overall entertainment value of the film.
Swiss Army Man puts some of the best acting I've seen in some time on display, taking advantage of a small and very committed cast. Paul Dano is absolutely incredible and he deserves a ton of credit for his clear dedication to his role. Daniel Radcliff and his sidekick, Manny are exceptional as well, and the on-screen chemistry between him and Dano is tremendous. In some strange way I actually feel for Daniel Radcliff and his struggle to shake the Harry Potter persona but this film is certainly a step in the right direction. Mary Elizabeth Winstead has very limited actual screen time but she is still great as expected.
Swiss Army Man isn't for everyone and I'm sure it will rub some people the wrong way, but if you have an appreciation for quality film, this is an absolute must see. My only regret is that I wasn't able to see it when it had its debut at the Sundance Film Festival. I'm not sure how much recognition Swiss Army Man will receive come award season, but I will be genuinely surprised if it doesn't take home something or at least get a few nominations. People continue to say they want more original ideas in Hollywood. Well, it doesn't get much more original than this, folks!
