Ebert's review of 'Southland Tales' was a single star, described by the critic as "a fevered rant." The film features Dwayne Johnson as Boxer Santaros, an amnesiac actor who is revealed to be a time traveler in a United States on the verge of World War III. Ebert found the premise bewildering and stated he was "dazed, confused, bewildered, bored, affronted and deafened by the boos all around [him]" after the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

The director's cut did little to sway Ebert's negative assessment. He suggested that Kelly should "keep right on cutting until he whittles it down to a ukulele pick." Ebert's specific criticisms included the film's dialogue, the prevalence of characters with absurd names, and the wardrobe choices of the cast. When attempting to summarize the narrative, Ebert declared that "a plot synopsis would require that the movie have a plot," indicating that the film's narrative was nonsensical and lacked coherence in his view.

'Southland Tales' Poor Reception at Cannes

Ebert was not alone in his critical reception of 'Southland Tales.' The film received poor scores from both audiences and critics, accumulating only 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was met with boos following its screening at the Cannes Film Festival. Andrew O'Hehir of Salon noted that "at least 10 percent of the press-screening audience walked out" during the showing, with many critics agreeing with Ebert's assessment of the plot's lack of sense.

However, some found merit in the film. Damon Wise of Empire called it "an effective and surprisingly funny comeback" for Richard Kelly. Melissa Anderson, in her review for Time Out, described 'Southland Tales' as "one of the smartest, funniest, most audacious, and most mournful, films of the year."

More recently, audiences have revisited the film, with some finding promise in its unconventional approach. Redditor The_ZombyWoof described the film as "a real brain worm" that "continues to bother you with both questions and observations." Fans argue that the perceived messiness of the plot is intentional, designed to be so unhinged that it prompts viewers to consider the potential end of the world. While not necessarily Dwayne Johnson's most underrated project, 'Southland Tales' has gained a cult following, though it remains a subject of critical division, with figures like Roger Ebert remaining unconvinced.

Featured names

• Loathed Dwayne
• Dystopian Sci
• Director Richard
• Southland Tales
• Dwayne Johnson
• Boxer Santaros
• United States
• Rotten Tomatoes
• Donnie Darko
• Richard Kelly
• Melissa Anderson
• Director Roger