 |
|
|
 |
|
| 1/5/2004 |
| In America: Nobody Drinks Like The Irish, but maybe they Should. |
A Movie Review
by Wes Bennett
|
“In America” is at the top of many critic’s lists for best of 2003. It might even be a contender in this year’s Academy Awards. As I seem to end up doing more and more often, I saw the film because of these critical raves, and not because I thought the film looked promising. Although it has some moving moments and very effectively dramatizes the grief of a family after losing a child, it’s held back by a lack of disciplined structure and storytelling.
“America” is based on Irish director Jim Sheridan’s ("My Left Foot" and “In the Name of the Father”), experiences when he immigrated to Manhattan in the early 1980s.
The Sullivan family, made up of Johnny (Paddy Considine) and Sarah (Samantha Morton of “Minority Report”) and their two charming daughters, Christy and Ariel (played by sisters Sarah and Emma Bolger) have just arrived in New York City and move into a dilapidated apartment in Hell's Kitchen. The building's other residents are a motley crew of pimps, drug dealers, transvestites, hookers and other nefarious characters. But the mysterious man downstairs who constantly screams, turns out to be a sensitive artist dying of AIDS named Mateo (Djimon Hounsou of “Amistad”) who becomes good friends with the family.
All the while, the memories of Frankie, the dead son they left behind in Ireland, remain a source of deep sadness that continues to create difficulties.
Much of the film is about the process of letting go of that grief. How long does it take to get over the death of a child? Some blame themselves, or their spouse or even God. Johnny is unable to feel many emotions and remains somewhat numb. The way the family deals with their loss is one of the strongest elements of the film. It never feels overly dramatic or forced. It feels extremely personal and realistic. Most of all it feels real.
When I found out the story was only loosely based on Sheridan’s early years in New York, I was very surprised. I learned that there was, in fact, no younger son that died and that the script was heavily revised by Sheridan’s two daughters. That being said, in retrospect, the film felt kind of episodic. I was willing to accept that because I was under the impression that it was a true story, but it really wasn’t. Knowing that a lot of the content was made up causes me to question the structure of the film.
The character of Mateo functions as a reminder to the family of how precious and exciting life is. But we don’t really know much about him and much like the Keanu Reeve’s doctor in “Something’s Gotta Give,” he’s probably too good to be true.
The film features two great performances from child actors, Sarah and Emma Bolger as the two daughters. Their expressions and innocence go a long way in making the film more compelling than it otherwise might have been.
The relatively unknown Paddy Considine, as Johnny, feels very authentic. For much of the time, he hides his feelings about Frankie and the family's predicament, but every now and then he explodes with a show of forceful emotion. Also, because he was an unknown actor, I could more easily suspend my sense of disbelief (unlike in “Cold Mountain” where a who’s who of young actors keep popping up in small roles, causing you to become distracted. Is that Natalie Portman? Is that Giovanni Ribisi? Was he in “Boiler Room.”)
There is a great scene when Johnny almost gambles away all of their rent money on a carnival game in an incredibly risky attempt to win his daughter an ET doll. It has great elements of drama and tragedy while showcasing the pitfalls of male pride. The scene was probably the highlight of the film for me.
Ultimately, the film is very realistic in its portrayal of a family’s grief, but as far as the overall plot and entertainment value, I don’t think that general audiences would enjoy it that much and I wouldn’t recommend it. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| "We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it." |
- Jack Nicholson
A Few Good Men
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Distributed Beers
|
| 5 |
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot |
| 4 |
Guinness Draught |
| 3 |
Newcastle Brown Ale |
| 2 |
Bass Pale Ale |
| 1 |
Samuel Adams Boston Lager |
|
|
|
|
|
