Southland Tales is definitely underrated. I remember the first time I watched it I thought it was pretty terrible, but that's because I couldn't understand what it was about. I still don't really understand what it's about, but I don't think it's important. I'm sure I could figure it out with more views, just like Mulholland Drive. But Mulholland Drive is critically acclaimed--I think Southland Tales isn't because it stars B-list actors.
At first I thought Kelly had to go with Sean William Scott and Dwayne Johnson because big name actors wouldn't touch it, but apparently Kelly went after actors that had been pigeonholed to let them act outside of the norm. And that fits in with the lampooning of Hollywood. The downside is few of the actors understood what the movie is about.
Maybe the communication between Kelly and the audience leaves something to be desired, but the movie does have a great atmosphere.
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