The Devil and Jesus discuss the end of the world on the eve of the new millennium. It's like a more humanistic and clever version of "Dogma" with lots of shaky, blur streaked Wang Kar Wai-ish digital camera work. An enjoyable experiment, but not as effortless as Hartley's earlier films. I still haven't a movie by him I haven't enjoyed. Martin Donovan as always delivers the deadpan dialog and rock starlet P.J. Harvey backs him as Magdalena his assistant (completely platonic). I think the woman whose soul get's sold is Hartley's wife. It does however benefit from a short time, never lingering longer than it needs to or wasting any time. I give it an extra half star for knowing when to close shop. A good sense of timing is important.
Review of The Book of Life
