CREEPY, BUT ONLY SKIN DEEP.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic THE GRISLY German import ``Tattoo'' begins with a nod to ``Kiss Me Deadly'': a naked blonde (not the Terminatrix) shambles along a roadway, disoriented dis·o·ri·ent tr.v. dis·o·ri·ent·ed, dis·o·ri·ent·ing, dis·o·ri·ents To cause (a person, for example) to experience disorientation. Adj. 1. and obviously needing a helping hand. Unfortunately, Mike Hammer is nowhere to be found and a bus plows the woman under. Later, the medical examiner A public official charged with investigating all sudden, suspicious, unexplained, or unnatural deaths within the area of his or her appointed jurisdiction. A medical examiner differs from a Coroner in that a medical examiner is a physician. finds something unusual in the charred victim's stomach: an index finger, a digit pointing the way toward the truth behind the woman's last moments on earth. That gives you a good idea of what to expect from ``Tattoo.'' Writer-director Robert Schwentke has obviously spent a lot of time holed up in his basement watching ``Seven,'' not to mention ``The Silence of the Lambs.'' ``Tattoo'' has the same buddy-cop dynamic as the David Fincher film and, likewise, is preoccupied with beautiful lighting, rain machines and grotesque mutilations. It's watchable watch·a·ble adj. 1. Capable of being watched; viewable: watchable wildlife. 2. Good enough to watch: "The fastest modem ... but it never quite rises above being a mannered knockoff knock·off n. Informal An unauthorized copy or imitation, as of designer clothing: "the place to go for quality knockoffs" Women's Wear Daily. Noun 1. . The initial investigation pairs the world-weary Detective Minks (Christian Redl) with the wet-behind-the-ears Marc Schrader (pretty boy August Diehl August Diehl (born January 4, 1976, Berlin) is a German actor. His father is actor Hans Diehl, his mother is a costume designer and his brother is a composer. Diehl is married to actress Julia Malik. , sort of a Brad Pitt without the charisma). The trail leads to the odd fetishist who is apparently murdering people for their tattoos, the work of a legendary Japanese artist. Naturally, the detectives will meet somebody still alive with the coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. skin work, the first of a great many fanciful flukes that become increasingly convoluted as the movie barrels toward its cheerless conclusion. Schwentke, making his feature film, deserves style points for the look of the film and the way in which he maintains an air of menace throughout its length. But character development is slight; subplots aimed toward accomplishing that purpose come off as overheated o·ver·heat v. o·ver·heat·ed, o·ver·heat·ing, o·ver·heats v.tr. 1. To heat too much. 2. To cause to become excited, agitated, or overstimulated. v.intr. . In that sense, Schwentke may be his country's answer to Gore Verbinski (``The Ring''), an accomplished stylist, but not much of a storyteller. Glenn Whipp, (818) 713-3672 glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com TATTOO - Two and one half stars (Unrated) Starring: Christian Redl, August Diehl. Director: Robert Schwentke. Running time: 1 hr. 48 min. Playing: Nuart in West L.A. In a nutshell: Sieben |
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