Antwone Fisher (20th Century Fox. 2002. DVD version)
Denzel Washington is our generation’s Sidney Poirtier: An African American actor and director of such talent and focus that his work can change the fabric of our society in how it sees itself and its history. From his debut in Glory as a young union soldier, to his portrayal of a homophobic attorney in Philadelphia, to his riveting performances of such diverse black men of history as Malcom X (Malcom X) and Frank Lucas (American Gangster) and a myriad of roles in between and thereafter, Mr. Washington has achieved enormous success on the screen as a leading actor and in character roles. But in this older chestnut of a film, Washington not only provides another solid, understated performance of a troubled African American role model (a Marine psychiatrist treating a seaman’s anger), he directs a film that few saw in the theaters and few have rented on NetFlix or as a DVD. And that, folks, is a real shame.
Derek Luke (starring in his first feature film) portrays Antwone Fisher, a real-life sailor on a Navy amphibious assault ship (the Belleau Wood; think small aircraft carrier for helicopters), who comes from a troubled past that he’s never confronted. Washington plays Dr. Jerome Davenport, the Marine psychiatrist that Fisher is sent to see after a racial altercation on the Belleau Wood. But the good doctor himself is troubled: Deftly, screenwriter Fisher and director Washington don’t reveal what ails Washington’s character: We just know there’s something a’brewing with the physician who cannot, or will not, heal himself. Luke is perfect as Fisher: Physically strong, emotionally explosive, and dead on as he tries to confront years of abuse experienced at the hands of his foster mother and foster sister while growing up in Cleveland. Washington is his usual solid self as Davenport, flashing anger when necessary but generally playing it straight in an attempt to help young Fisher unravel the past. The supporting actresses are extremely gifted in their limited roles and James Brolin wanders in for a cameo at the beginning of the film but, by and large, this is Luke and Washington’s film and it is a dandy.
My wife, who is a mental health therapist, was balling throughout the picture. I held off until near the end but, even this jaded District Court Judge wept as the film spun to conclusion. A fine, fine piece of movie making that shows a film of substance can be made by a black director and a black screenwriter (featuring an essentially all black cast) without resorting to graphic violence, unnecessary cursing, or relying upon stereotypical behaviors. Why this film didn’t do well or win awards is beyond me. Rent it today!
5 stars out of 5.
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009.Overture Films. DVD Version)
My wife bought the DVD version of this parody/docucomedy based upon Jon Ronson’s bestseller about his encounter with “counter culture operatives” he came into contact with as he tried to embed himself with US forces in Iraq during the early stages of the Iraq War. The title comes from a covert experiment run by the US Army where a group of elite soldiers (who were believed to possess psychic powers) stared at goats in an attempt to stop the animals’ hearts. George Clooney is Lyn Cassady, the ops guy who Bob Wilton (the fictional version of Ronson in the movie played by Ewan McGregor) “bumps” into on his attempt to enter Iraq as a reporter. From the first moment, you know that this is no ordinary war movie. If you are looking for Battle of the Bulge or Gettysburg in this film, you won’t find it. But if you loved Clooney in Oh Brother, Where art Thou?, you will thoroughly enjoy this sardonic look at how the military industrial complex thinks in post-Vietnam America. I’ll admit to being a skeptic: the title alone caused me to deride my wife for buying the DVD from Target’s discount bin. But I know when to admit (especially when it comes to my wife) I was wrong. So here it is: Rene’, I was wrong.
Clooney is wacky and engaging in his role. Jeff Bridges is at his unstable best in a part reminiscent of his past forays into comedy (think Big Lebowski). As the commander of the unstable unit engaged in the “Warrior Monks” experiment that molds Clooney’s character, Bridges is terrific. My only criticism is that the foil in the film, Kevin Spacey (another Oscar winning actor) doesn’t hit the high notes in his performance. In my view, Spacey is slightly miscast as the ostensible villain of the tale: He plays serious far better than he plays funny.
But if your looking for a comedic look at war that leaves you grateful to your wife, husband, kid (pun intended), or significant other for bringing home this film, take a look. You won’t be disappointed.
4 stars out of 4.
The Kreutzer Sonata (based on the novella by Leo Tolstoy). (2009. Mongrel Media (Canada). DVD version)
If you’re a fan of the original Law and Order television series, you’ll recognize Elizabeth Rohm as one of the many young female assistant DA’s who have been at the side of lead prosecutor Jack McCoy during the long run of that program. Here, in a modern-day rendering of Tolstoy’s once scandalous story of love, passion, and obsession turned homicidal, Rohm plays Abby, a concert pianist turned mother and housewife, whose rich, older philanthropist husband, Edgar, cannot help but believe (given Abby’s beauty, ardor, and the age difference between them) is having an affair with a young violinist. Though the story is set in contemporary LA, with a series of beautiful modern homes as backdrops for steamy scenes between Edgar (played by Danny Huston) and Abby, the plot closely follows the psychological underpinnings of the original novella.
The tale is an old one (admiration and love gone awry) and it is well played by the actors in this sleeper of an independent film. The intimate scenes are nearly pornographic: One has to wonder how Rohm and Huston pull them off without actually engaging! Rohm’s depiction of Abby, while not Oscar worthy, certainly hits the right note and it’s refreshing to see a natural, female body on the screen rather than one that has undergone cosmetic “enhancement”. Huston is terrific as Edgar, playing the brooding, jealous husband with sufficient nuance to pull off the difficult character that Tolstoy created. It’s not an easy thing to make a viewer care about a homicidal husband but, by playing the part as Tolstoy wrote it, we are compelled to understand Edgar’s obsession and his ultimate surrender to rage. Spoiler alert: Though Angelica Huston is given third bill on the cover of the DVD, her role is no more than five minutes and has little to do with the underlying plot.
I’d suggest any fan of the novella will not be disappointed by this repackaging of one of Tolstoy’s most shocking (when it was finally published after years of suppressing censorship) stories. The Kreutzer Sonata is the sort of surprising film that gives credence to the need for places such as Zinema in my hometown of Duluth, where independent films are shown. My only major criticism is that Rohm appears to be pretending to play the piano as she and Aidan (the violinist) practice the Beethoven piece that captivated Tolstoy to write the novella. It would have been nice to see Rohm put in the same time and effort that Jeff Bridges did to his guitar playing and singing in Crazy Heart.
One final note, you may have difficulty finding this film in the theaters or on DVD. It appears it is not available in the US market as a DVD but it can be found on NetFlix via streaming video. This review refers to the Mongrel Media release which is a Canadian distributor. I purchased my copy through Amazon.ca. Be aware that the version displayed at Amazon.com is formatted for the European market and will not play on a North American DVD.
4 stars out of 4.
The Fountainhead (1948 and 2006 (DVD Version). Warner Bros. Pictures)
It’s a good thing Robert Redford wasn’t directing movies back in 1948 and that King Vidor was. Why? Because of Redford’s insistence on changing the endings of dark, beloved literary masterpieces for film. Ever seen The Natural? Or the Horse Whisperer? Great books both and fairly good movies as well. But in both cases, Redford let his Disney-like sentimentality get the better of him and change the ultimate message of the movies by changing the climactic endings. King Vidor, likely because of Ayn Rand’s strict contractual agreement with Warner Brothers (that no part of the dialogue she adapted from her novel for the film be altered), didn’t detour much from Rand’s intent or basic story. Of course, a philosophical tome depicting the virtues of Objectivism (selfishness) based upon the tension between a newspaper writer and an architect could well have ended up a mush pile of gibberish. And at times, Rand’s message does get in the way of the cinematic brilliance of Vidor’s adaptation. But Gary Cooper’s acting is superb: Cooper is Howard Roark, Rand’s superhero individualist. And Patricia Neal? No wonder Cooper fell head over heels for her, both as Roark and in real life. She, in my humble estimation, propels the film forward, giving it sexual tension and vibrant reality when the dialogue and story could have easily doomed the picture to a vault on the Warner Brothers lot. Raymond Massey also does a fine turn as Gail Wynand, the newspaper tycoon who ultimately tries to save Roark from those who would destroy him.
The sets are awesome despite the primitive technology of the 1940s: The models and lighting and mood accentuate Rand’s themes. The use of black and white photography is spot on because King Vidor made his name in the silent film era and there is much about this movie that reminds me, at least stylistically, of Fritz Lang’s masterpiece, Metropolis.
While my review of the book isn’t a five star review (mainly due to the way the plot and story get bogged down in the course of Rand’s rants), this movie is a must see. It is truly an under-appreciated work of art. Buy or rent the DVD so you can watch the “Filming of…” short film. It’s well worth the price of the disk on its own.
5 stars out of 5
