宋云峰
1.伍迪·艾倫的電影主題與風格
1935年出生的伍迪·艾倫現(xiàn)已年過八旬。20世紀50年代他以喜劇作家出道,60年代以表演單口相聲而出名,此后便一直從事喜劇電影的編劇、表演和導演工作,幾乎一年拍攝一部電影,逐漸形成了自己的主題和風格。作為著名喜劇家,伍迪·艾倫的電影大都由自己編劇、執(zhí)導和出演,塑造了缺乏安全感、焦慮不安并喋喋不休的無能知識分子的獨特形象,與其本人現(xiàn)實生活中的人格大相徑庭 [As a comedian, he developed the persona(人物角色)of an insecure, intellectual, fretful(焦躁的)nebbish(無能的人), which he maintains is quite different from his real-life personality]。
自20世紀80年代以來,伍迪·艾倫開始拍攝更多的犯罪劇情片,聚焦于犯罪人物的心理活動,其主題與風格深受俄羅斯作家陀思妥耶夫斯基《罪與罰》(1866)的影響?!蹲锱c罰》描寫了窮大學生拉斯柯爾尼科夫(Raskolnikov)受無政府主義思想毒害,認為自己是個超人,可以為所欲為。為生計所迫,他殺死典當鋪的老太婆阿廖娜和她無辜的妹妹麗扎韋塔,制造了一起震驚全俄的兇殺案。經歷了內心痛苦的懺悔后,他最終在基督徒索尼雅姑娘的規(guī)勸下投案自首,被判流放西伯利亞?!蹲锱c罰》聚焦于拉斯柯爾尼科夫計劃犯罪、實施犯罪以及事后的自我開脫等道德困境與心理活動,尤其是他以超人理論為自己開脫,甚至自比拿破侖,認為可以為了更高目的而殺人的自我辯護。
Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished(窮困潦倒的)ex-student in Saint Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous(肆無忌憚的)pawnbroker(典當商)for her cash. Raskolnikov, in an attempt to defend his actions, argues that with the pawnbrokers money he can perform good deeds to counterbalance the crime, while ridding the world of a vermin(害蟲,壞蛋). He also commits the murder to test a theory of his that dictates some people are naturally capable of such actions, and even have the right to perform them. Several times throughout the novel, Raskolnikov compares himself with Napoleon Bonaparte(拿破侖·波拿巴)and shares his belief that murder is permissible in pursuit of a higher purpose.
這樣的主題在伍迪·艾倫80年代以來的犯罪片中反復出現(xiàn),探討人在實施犯罪時的心理活動以及事后的道德困境和良心拷問,從而進一步審視人的本質。
2. 《罪與錯》(Crimes and Misdemeanors, 1989)
朱達(Judah)是一名事業(yè)有成的眼科醫(yī)生,他不僅在學術界取得了穩(wěn)固的地位,更是熱心于慈善事業(yè)。在外人眼中,朱達和妻子米利亞姆(Miriam)無疑是一對模范夫妻,兩人的婚姻長久而穩(wěn)定,可是實際上,朱達多年來一直和一個名叫多羅瑞斯(Dolores)的女子保持著親密的關系。令朱達頭痛的是,多羅瑞斯已經無法再忍受自己秘密情人的身份,咄咄逼人的她甚至向朱達發(fā)出了威脅,要把他們的關系公之于世。所以朱達不得不決定將多羅瑞斯除掉。雇人將多羅瑞斯除掉后,朱達陰差陽錯地逃過了法律的制裁,生活也歸于平靜,但他能否逃脫良心和道德的譴責?朱達認為隨著時間的推移,任何危機都會過去;而劇中的另一個主要人物克里夫(Cliff)則認為,一個人將永遠為其所犯下的罪與錯承受良心的不安,因為茫茫宇宙中是存在公平正義(justice)的。這一陀思妥耶夫斯基式的命題在伍迪·艾倫之后的犯罪電影中反復出現(xiàn),其答案也不盡相同,表現(xiàn)了導演在這一問題上的糾結。
Judah has worked through his guilt and is enjoying life once more; the murder had been blamed on a drifter(流浪漢)with a criminal record. Judah says that with time, any crisis will pass; but Cliff morosely(憂郁地)claims instead that one is forever fated to bear ones burdens for “crimes and misdemeanors”. The outline of Judahs moral dilemma—whether a person can continue everyday life with the knowledge of having committed murder—evokes(喚起)the pivotal(極為關鍵的)idea of the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment (1866), despite suggesting a resolution nearly opposite to that of the novel. Allen would revisit the theme in his films Match Point, Cassandras Dream and Irrational Man(《賽末點》、《卡珊德拉之夢》和《無理之人》).endprint
美國著名影評人羅杰·易伯特(Roger Ebert)高度評價《罪與錯》,認為該片創(chuàng)造了最好的懸念,因為盡管觀眾對故事的發(fā)展了如指掌,但心理拷問會將觀眾置于主人公的位置:在同樣的情況下你會怎么做?
The movie generates the best kind of suspense, because its not about what will happen to people—its about what decisions they will reach. We have the same information they have. What would we do? How far would we go to protect our happiness and reputation? How selfish would we be? Is our comfort worth more than another persons life? Allen does not evade(規(guī)避)this question, and his answer seems to be, yes, for some people, it would be.
3. 《賽末點》(Match Point, 2005)
窮小子威爾頓(Wilton)為改變自己的命運,從愛爾蘭來到倫敦當網球教練,立誓要憑一身網球絕技混入對該運動情有獨鐘的上流社會。結識富家公子哥湯姆(Tom)后,他得到了機會。對方的妹妹克羅伊(Chloe)對他一見鐘情,其后,在克羅伊父親的相助下,威爾頓順利混入上流社會。正當他要與克羅伊談婚論嫁時,威爾頓邂逅了湯姆的女友、來自美國的女演員諾拉(Nora),后者同樣在為進入上流社會做著不懈的努力,兩個人都有一種寄人籬下同病相憐之感,并發(fā)生了一夜情。不久,威爾頓與克羅伊結婚,而湯姆卻與諾拉分手。一段時間后,威爾頓與諾拉偶遇,與她又恢復了情人關系。克羅伊結婚后一直想要個孩子,可總是不能如愿,正當威爾頓在善良而富有的妻子克羅伊和性感迷人的情人諾拉之間周旋時,諾拉意外懷孕了。她拒絕墮胎,要求威爾頓必須將實情告訴克羅伊并與之分手。但威爾頓并不愛諾拉,他決定選擇優(yōu)越的生活而殺死諾拉。最終他殺死了諾拉和她的房東,并由于一系列巧合而順利擺脫了法律上的嫌疑。
《賽末點》被伍迪·艾倫視為自己最好的作品之一,其犯罪主題的動因也比《罪與錯》更加復雜,涉及道德、貪婪、性欲和運氣(morality, greed, lust and luck)等。影片一開始就將人生的命運比做決定網球勝負的最后一球——賽末點,全憑運氣。借助威爾頓正在閱讀的《罪與罰》,影片明顯將其比做陀思妥耶夫斯基小說中的主人公拉斯柯爾尼科夫。但拉斯柯爾尼科夫在殺人后受到良心的譴責而投案自首,最終受到懲罰而得到救贖——皈依上帝并得到愛情。而《賽末點》的主人公威爾頓則為了私利殺死了愛他的姑娘,沒有一絲的負罪感,并且靠運氣逃過了法律的懲罰。與陀思妥耶夫斯基不同,伍迪·艾倫在這部影片中對命運、忠誠和人性持悲觀態(tài)度,認為人世間既沒有上帝,也沒有懲罰,更沒有愛情提供救贖。
The film is a debate with Fyodor Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment, which Wilton is seen reading early on, identifying him with the anti-hero Raskolnikov. That character is a brooding(憂思的)loner who kills two women to prove that he is a superior being, but is racked(折磨)by guilt and eventually admits all to a dogged sleuth(偵探), and he is finally redeemed(救贖)by punishment, the love of a poor girl, and the discovery of God. Wilton is a brooding loner who kills a poor girl who loves him because he considers his interests superior to those around him, knows little guilt, and avoids detection(被發(fā)現(xiàn))through luck. Offering a depressing view on fate, fidelity(忠貞), and the nature of man, Allen argues, unlike Dostoyevsky, that there is neither God, nor punishment, nor love to provide redemption.
4. 《卡珊德拉之夢》(Cassandras Dreams, 2007)
故事的主人公是生活在倫敦的兩兄弟——伊恩(Ian)和特里(Terry)。一個沉溺賭博,負債累累;另一個則為漂亮女演員神魂顛倒,患得患失。兄弟倆用特里賽狗下注贏的錢低價買到一艘船,并將其命名為“卡珊德拉之夢”,絲毫沒有意識到它將帶來的厄運。兩兄弟都很需要錢,正當他們對發(fā)財感到絕望的時候,家族英雄、富裕的霍華德叔叔突然來探望兩兄弟,他以親情和金錢為誘餌,勸誘兩人幫他解決掉一個自己的商業(yè)伙伴。兩兄弟經過痛苦的思想掙扎,終于決定下手。事情進展得很順利,錢已到手的兩兄弟開著“卡珊德拉之夢”,開始享受陽光和海風??墒侨兆硬⒉幌袼麄兯A期的那樣風平浪靜,更多的煩惱隨后接踵而來。殺了人的特里一直內心自責,不敢面對自己殺人的現(xiàn)實,猶豫著是否要向警察自首。伊恩得知消息,害怕特里自首會連累自己,于是找到叔叔霍華德,兩人開始醞釀謀殺特里的計劃。在“卡珊德拉之夢”游艇上,親情、金錢、良知開始相互審判。最終兩兄弟同歸于盡。endprint
Ian plans to poison Terry during an outing on the boat. Ian cant bring himself to kill his own brother, and attacks him in a fit of rage(一時氣憤). In the chaos, Terry knocks Ian down the steps into the cabin, killing him. The boat is later discovered adrift by the police, and the audience learns that Terry snapped(失足)and drowned himself after killing his brother. The last shot is of Cassandras Dream, still in beautiful condition despite the tragedies it set in motion.
顯然,伍迪·艾倫關于罪與罰的主題在該片中得到再現(xiàn),尤以希臘神話人物卡珊德拉來象征人們日常選擇中的因果關系和因緣巧合??ㄉ旱吕窍ED神話中的預言家,但她對厄運的預言往往被她身邊的人所忽略,或視為無稽之談。影片中兩兄弟用賭博贏來的錢購買船只并命名為“卡珊德拉之夢”早已預示著厄運的降臨——為錢而殺人并最終導致人財兩失。
In modern usage the name of Cassandra is employed as a rhetorical device(修辭手法)to indicate someone whose accurate prophecies(預言)are not believed by those around them. After a greyhound(賽狗)that won Terry the money, the brothers buy a sailboat at an oddly low price, despite its near pristine(嶄新的)condition. They name it Cassandras Dream, knowing nothing of Greek mythology(希臘神話), unaware of the ominous(不詳?shù)模゛ntecedents(前因)of this name—the ancient prophetess(女預言家)Cassandra, whose prophecies of doom(厄運,死亡)went unheeded(被忽略的)by those around her.
5. 《無理之人》 (Irrational Man, 2015)
影片講述了一起大學校園里的謀殺案。阿貝(Abe)是新英格蘭某大學一名滿腹經綸又酗酒亂性的哲學教授,與崇拜他的女學生吉爾(Jill)關系非同尋常。一次,吉爾與阿貝在一家餐館吃飯,偶然聽到一個女人抱怨她遭到法官不公正裁決,將失去孩子的監(jiān)護權。阿貝很同情那個女人,決定主持正義,幫她把法官除掉。事實上,阿貝把“完美謀殺”當成了解決自身存在主義危機的出路。經過“理性”的分析,他認為自己與這起案件毫無聯(lián)系,所以別人不會懷疑到他。阿貝從學校實驗室偷來了氰化物,放進有橙汁的杯子里,偷偷與法官的杯子做了調換。果然他很快得逞了,法官隨后中毒身亡,警方破案則沒有頭緒。隨著案件的進展,吉爾發(fā)現(xiàn)了該案的一些破綻,找到阿貝詰問,阿貝不得不承認了犯罪的事實,但卻拒絕為此承擔責任,因為他殺人的動機是為了主持“正義”。吉爾威脅要告發(fā)阿貝。為此,阿貝不得不決定除掉吉爾,但卻掉進了自己設計的死亡陷阱。
Jill confronts Abe and accuses him of the murder. Abe then admits his guilt and explains his motive. Jill decides to break off their relationship but promises not to turn him in(告發(fā)他). However, after an innocent man is accused of the crime, she presses Abe to go to the police, warning him that otherwise she will report him. Abe, who has only recently started enjoying life, is determined to stay out of jail. He attempts to kill Jill by pushing her into an elevator shaft(電梯井), but, instead, he stumbles(踉蹌)backward and falls down the shaft to his death. Jill then begins repairing her life.
《無理之人》除了延續(xù)了伍迪·艾倫罪與罰的主題之外,還對知識分子的虛偽和雙重道德標準進行了辛辣的諷刺。在影片中,大學教授阿貝以知名哲學家自居,占據(jù)道德高地,在課堂上大談康德、薩特、波伏娃,很享受學生(尤其是女學生)對自己的崇拜,但私下卻毫無道德可言,同時與女同事和女學生發(fā)生關系。當吉爾揭穿了他的殺人事實后,阿貝的權威形象蕩然無存,但仍竭力為自己的犯法和不道德行為辯解。在吉爾逼迫他去自首時,阿貝狗急跳墻,決定將吉爾除掉。具有諷刺意味的是,阿貝作為哲學教授在課堂上大談理性和選擇,但自己在生活中的所作所為卻非常不理性,導致了自我毀滅的悲劇。伍迪·艾倫似乎在暗示,人性(由理性和感性兩個方面組成)對每個人都是公平的,你的選擇就決定了你的命運。endprint
《無理之人》精彩臺詞
Jill: What do you plan to do about this?
Abe: I dont know.
Jill: You dont know. Surely, youre not gonna let an innocent man take the rap for(代人受罰)you, Abe.
Abe: Ive been up and back over this since I heard the news.
Jill: “Up and back”? What does that mean?
Abe: I mean that I tried to bring off(完成)the perfect crime, and apparently, I succeeded all too well.
Jill: Okay, well, what about all your talk about moral high ground?
Abe: Look, I need to think this out, all right?
Jill: What is there to think about? An innocent man is about to have his life ruined.
Abe: Okay, Ill give myself up(自首). Is that what you want?
Jill: Isnt that what you want? I mean, all this talk, talk, talk, about doing the right thing, and whats best, and…
Abe: Okay, if they dont see that theyre making a mistake and let him go(放了那個被冤枉的人)in a few days, then Ill just… Ill fuckin, Ill turn myself in(自首).
Jill: I havent been able to live with myself(心安理得)as it is! And this is a… Were talking about an innocent man thats gonna be prosecuted(起訴)for this!
Abe: I know, I agree! Let me just see if my luck holds out, and they come to realize that they made a mistake, you know? Because I mean… Look at me! Im not gonna fuckin make it!
Jill: I know, I understand. I get… You have to do it by Monday, though, Abe. You got to do it by Monday, or else Im gonna have to do it. Im gonna have to do it.endprint