Dahmer (2002)If you liked Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker last year, then you have this movie to thank. Kathryn Bigelow has stated many times that it was watching his performance in this film that convinced her that he was the right person to play Staff Sergeant William James. As we know, Renner wound up with an Oscar nomination, and while I yield that he did an admirable job in that film that I liked quite a bit, I didn't see fit to give him a nomination for my own year end "awards." Having seen him in this obscure film, I'm more than confident that was the right decision. In fact, after watching him in this role, I'm convinced that what he did in the Best Picture winner was nothing special at all.
In case you haven't figured it out, Renner stars as the notorious Jeffrey Dahmer, the horrific serial killer who terrorized the Midwest by murdering over a dozen young men in addition to indulging in rape, torture, dismemberment and cannibalism. The story alternates between flashbacks which show Dahmer's rise in psychopathic tendencies to the night where he encountered his final would-be victim that managed to escape and report him to the police, leading to the end of his terrorizing killing spree.
It's difficult to successfully pull off a character that on paper is this repulsive. You can't be too horrific otherwise the audience won't connect with you, while at the same time cannot be too sympathetic less the wrong tone be set by a person doing despicable acts. Renner pulls it off flawlessly. His Dahmer is a monster, but one whose psychosis is incredibly fascinating. Renner manages to balance the task of making Dahmer interesting but not sympathetic. He doesn't overract the part either; there's a quiet burn and somber intensity to what he brings to the part, and he manages to reach deep levels of complexity felt for this character. It's one of the hardest jobs an actor can do, and Renner does an fantastic job at keeping afloat.
The film has a very intimate nature as written and shot by David Jacobson. It almost feels like a play, which is best. There's no grand ambition, or overtly graphic gore either, and because everything feels quite small, it's a positive way to draw us into this story we might normally shun away from. However, the alternation between the flashbacks and the final night create a jarring pace for the film, and anytime a scene builds up momentum, it immediately dissipates when the timeline shifts. This is also another film that treats its main character better than its supporting players. Bruce Davidson shows up as Dahmer's father, but he's flat and feels useless as a mild explanation into Dahmer's psychological background. Artel Great is that would-be victim, but he's treated with a lack of depth and conflicting character motivations. The last act of his character is a fabricated event, and it not only feels like a betrayal, but a moment where Great's acting isn't up to par with Renner.
It's hard to just give this film a blanket recommendation; not everyone is interested in the exploits of a sadistic, psychopathic, homosexual, cannibalistic serial killer. Hard to imagine, I know. But I also can't give it a blanket recommendation because of some serious story issues and supporting characters that get taken to the extreme sideline. But I have to give it up to Jeremy Renner for making a film that seems impossible to like actually come out admirable. I now believe that he deserved the Oscar nomination for this instead of The Hurt Locker, and he would have been more deserving to win for this. I hope others attempt to seek this out. I'm certainly glad Kathryn Bigelow did.
B
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