Movie Loner

Sean Penn is a great actor. I doubt you’ll get much of an argument from most people on that declaration. However, his ability as a Writer/Director is debatable. Penn’s first three films as Director -The Indian Runner, The Crossing Guard and The Pledge – all had moments of greatness, but on the whole they failed to be complete narratives. They were dark, maudlin stories that tip-toed the line of self-indulgent melodrama. Penn has concentrated on his stellar acting career in recent years having not donned the Directing cap since 2001. That was until last year, when Penn chose to adapt Jon Krakauer’s best-selling novel Into the Wild. It is easily Penn’s best film behind the camera and one of 2007’s top movies.

In 1990, Christopher McCandless graduates from college and does something totally out of the ordinary. He donates his life savings to charity, rips-up his social security card, burns his loose cash and sets-off on a solitary journey of self-discovery. Telling no one – including his family – Christopher rejects a life of boardroom meetings and material obsession. Instead, he wanders off the grid to become one with nature. After assuming the name “Alexander Supertramp,” his travels take him west where he meets a host of memorable characters: hippie-couple Jan and Rainey, who play the role of surrogate parents; legally-challenged vagabond farmer Wayne Westberberg, who plays big-brother to Alex; lonely leather engraver Ron Franz, who willingly accepts a grandfatherly role.

Alex swims the Pacific, kayaks the Colorado River, rides the Southern California rails and climbs the hills around the Salton Sea. He leaves all his relationships behind, believing he needs only his books and wits to survive the Alaskan Wilderness. Alex settles in an abandoned school bus and makes a home for himself. The harsh and often cruel realities of nature prove difficult for Alex. Permanent solitude does not equate to happiness. However, this realization comes too late for Alex. His desperation to survive leads to carelessness, which brings a tragic end to Alex’s courageous exit from modern society.

Sean Penn hit this story out of the park. It is one of the most original character studies I have ever seen. Penn jumps back-and-forth in time, utilizing pinpoint flashbacks, to unfold a multi-layered narrative. It would be easy to define McCandless as a crazy anti-establishment rich kid, but there was much more to his character. He was an intelligent, caring and fearless young man who lived his life his way. Penn refuses to judge McCandless for his choices. To do so would be irresponsible and unfair. Instead, the Writer/Director presents the truth of his protagonist’s existence, and allows the audience to formulate their own opinion.

Emile Hirsch delivers a spot-on performance in the lead role. His ability to capture the essence of McCandless makes the film work. The success of Into the Wild depended largely on Hirsch’s portrayal of a very complex man. How Hirsch didn’t get an Oscar nod is puzzling. He carries the film on his shoulders, aided by Penn’s steady direction. Quality additional support comes from Hal Holbrook (in an Oscar nominated performance), Vince Vaughn, William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden and the always-convincing Catherine Keener. Gorgeous cinematography and a dynamite soundtrack featuring songs from Eddie Vedder accentuate an expertly-structured screenplay. Into the Wild is a thought-provoking film that deserved many more accolades than it received last year.

The trailer for Into the Wild:

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Where have I been? Well, between moving to a new state and an increase in other writing duties, I have severely neglected the Movie Loner. Now that I’m settled I should be able to resume my reviews. I’m sure my tens of readers have been worried sick over my absence. Anyway, once Netflix confirms my change of address, I’ll be back in the game. Until then….

The Movie Loner

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What makes movies great? Good direction, creative writing, solid acting are all necessary attributes. But I would argue that interesting, original characters separate average films from those that stand out. A strong character can carry an otherwise ho-hum story to heights of grandeur. If a script is fortunate enough to contain more than one memorable character, then the sky is the limit. But all it takes is one dynamic role in the hands of a dedicated actor to make a film shine. Count The Beat That My Heart Skipped as a movie made special thanks to one great character and outstanding performance by its lead actor.

Thomas Seyr (Romain Duris) leads a double life. He works as an enforcer for a real-estate firm that specializes in shady and corrupt deals. But in his spare time he plays piano, a skill he shared with his deceased mother, who was a concert pianist. Thomas is charming, temperamental and sensitive. He loves his father deeply, but has grown tired of his scheming ways. He’s also in love with his partner’s wife, which further complicates his already hectic existence. When Thomas is given a chance to change his life he seizes it by dedicating himself to the piano. Soon his two worlds collide and he must choose between the path of his father or the one his mother took. Success means leaving his violent past behind. Failure means continuing down the road to self-destruction.

“Hands” are symbolic throughout the film. Thomas’ hands represent his personal dichotomy. The same hardened and scarred hands used to beat a scumbag debtor are also capable of creating beautiful music. Thomas struggles to calm his hands, to soften their touch, to transform them from fierce weapons to delicate instruments. By allowing music to guide him he is able to release the passion inside that yearns to escape after years of laying dormant. He quells his violent tendencies and exchanges the role of fighter for that of a lover, a romantic who feels compassion and desires companionship. However, the reality of the person he has been cannot be forgotten. Below the surface is a burning rage that will never die. Thomas’ greatest challenge is keeping the rage from regaining control over him.

Romain Duris is an absolute marvel to behold. His performance is unpredictable and evocative. He captures the intensity of the character precisely without a hint of reluctance. Rarely do you see an actor embody a role with such emotion, but Duris nails every facet of Thomas. It is an eye-opening portrayal for certain. Director Jacques Audiard paints a dark, almost dystopic canvas filled with foreboding shadows. You root for Thomas, but while doing so are painfully aware nothing comes easy for him. Audiard makes sure of that by planting well-placed pitfalls throughout the story which represent trials that Thomas must endure. They serve as a reminder that possessing the will to change one’s life is often not enough to ensure success. Everyone has a past and it has a way of revealing itself at the least opportune times. The Beat That My Heart Skipped is a unique film experience that proves great characters can equal great films.

The trailer for The Beat That My Heart Skipped:

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