Code Unknown: Incomplete Tales of Several Journeys

Michael Haneke's 'Code Unknown' is he type of movie that the viewer earns as much as they put in. Every scene starts in the midst of its own premise, and with enough assumption and even more inference, one can discern what is going on, but only with preset motives (and as far as narrative goes, that is as far as I will delve...) Despite the narrative ubiquituies, the film covers some expansive issues - race relations, poverty, war, forced perspective, love - it would be detracting to say this movie encompasses anything less than holism throughout its 'cause.' The downside to this cinematic ideal is that the movie doesn't really contain a wholesome message that can radiate in any form; the presence of every concept is there, but despite whatever message, there always has to be some anecdotal tether to keep any interest in the given perspective. So once again, with enough knowledge of the ideas present, and with the ability to rise above dramatic cues and seize every situation at hand, this movie can be more effecting than any empirical literature - but I suppose that would be pretentious, wouldn't it? (Even assuming any of my friends read this far, it's only a matter of drunken pretense.......)

Cold. This is a cold film, like all Haneke films, but this one is unusually muddled. To tell you the truth it's not an code unknown , nor intricate for that matter. The position of a failed multicultural society is the only element that stands out here. There are no developed characters but situations in which they appear trying to demonstrate a concept, but this would be more rewarding if it at least went somewhere, which is at the same time surprising and disappointing of a director like Haneke. Code Unknown is more of an exposition than a film. A kind of essay that communicates its message, but in the long run is not transcendental or more enlightening than might have been expected considering its themes.