But then came his sophomoric film, Southland Tales, in 2006. The movie was a trainwreck, albeit a gloriously absurd trainwreck, that was so confusing and clumsy it was booed at its Cannes premiere.

Southland Tales is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Boxer Santaros is an ...