The Protector: Never Mock a Man with a Red Scarf If He Asks You about Elephants

The Protector opens by introducing us to Thailand and the family of Kham (Tony Jaa). Kham's family raises elephants. The plot is set when a prized elephant is stolen before it can be offered as a token of devotion to His Majesty, the King of Thailand. Kham is charged with retrieval and protection of the elephant and its offspring. This is a role that his family has traditionally played, protecting the elephants from attacks from below while they were ridden into combat. Fortunately, Kham is a master of Muay Thai martial arts. He will need this training as he tracks down the Asian gang that kidnapped his charges.

And that is about as much plot as you'll get as The Protector revs into high gear and sets off on a roller coaster ride of martial arts mayhem. The story will pop up again as the action unfolds, but only long enough to send you careening into the next action sequence. If you are a fan of martial arts, this won't bother you a bit. Tony Jaa is amazing on screen as he dispatches a seemingly endless supply of nameless villains in scene after scene. It is all the more spectacular when you realize that there is no wire work, no CGI and no stunt doubles. The crowning achievement is a four minute, non-stop, unedited action sequence that has Kham fighting his way up a four story staircase.

The Protector was originally released in Asia in 2005 under the title Tom-Yum-Goong. The version being shown to American audiences has been cut by nearly 30 minutes. The original soundtrack has been supplemented by RZA, founder of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Also, the movie has been endorsed by Quentin Tarantino and is presented by him in the opening credits.

So, what can we learn from The Protector and Tony Jaa? Well, apart from a stunning number of ways to snap a human limb like a twig, he does demonstrate an astounding degree of devotion to his calling. He fearlessly presses on no matter how insurmountable the odds seem to be. And it is clear that he has spent many, many hours learning the skills necessary to excel at his art. While I don't think many of us will be engaged in a hunt for stolen elephants or confronted by an army of Asian gangsters, it probably wouldn't hurt us to consider applying these same traits to the more mundane problems we encounter as we journey through life.

Should you see The Protector? If you have an interest in the martial arts, you won't want to miss it. On the other hand if you're not already a fan, there really isn't enough of a story here to hook you. The attraction isn't the depth of the storytelling, but the physical artistry of highly skilled warriors captured on the big screen.

Factotum: Living on the Edge

Factotum is based on the book of the same name by acclaimed author of prose and poetry, Charles Bukowski. This movie is semi-autobiographical. The main character, Henry Chinaski (Matt Dillon), is considered by most to be Bukowski’s alter ego.

The movie follows Chinaski through a series of dead-end jobs and alcohol induced periods of unemployment. He can’t seem to hold a job any longer than it takes to earn enough money for the next binge. In between he scribbles short stories and poetry and tosses manuscripts in the mail with reckless abandon. Henry writes for himself, because he is a writer and he must write.

On his journey he meets Jan (Lili Taylor) and Laura (Marisa Tomei). Through his relationship with each of them we catch a glimpse of the man beneath the surface and the demons that drive him. At one point, success seems to be his. He has money, nice clothing and a taste of the “good life.� Alas, it doesn’t last for long. This new life is too alien and he soon sabotages himself and slips back into the life he knows best. It is this life that provides the muse for his writing.

The advertising copy for Factotum refers to Chinaski as a man “living on the edge.� And it is the edge of a dark chasm that threatens to consume him as he falls further and further into the darkness. As he spirals down his job opportunities dwindle, he abandons relationships, until finally all he has left is his booze and his writing.

The movie is dark in tone but still manages to pull a few cynical chuckles from the audience. The acting is superb across the board. The thread of the story jumps here and there through a series of vignettes that include inspiration from other short stories by Bukowski. They are tied together through voice over provided by Dillon.

Honestly, I was amazed at the degree to which I was sucked into this film. I wasn’t overly familiar with Bukowski’s work prior to the film or the work of writer, director and producer Brent Hamer. It proves to be a compelling combination. Factotum is well worth seeing if you are a fan of Bukowski or are just looking for a character driven film devoid of special effects.

Reflecting on the film, this is a story that we all probably have experience with. Oh, I don’t mean drinking, losing your job, and bottoming out. I’m referring to the struggle to overcome the familiar conditions that trap us where we are in life. How many of us accept the situation we find ourselves in, simply because sticking with what we know seems safer than letting go in the pursuit of something better?

In Chinaski’s case, was he able to write only because of the life he experienced? Can we change our circumstances without changing who we fundamentally are? Must we change our circumstances if we want to change our behaviors, our habits, or the path we trod? It is a subject worth meditating on.