Down in the Valley – 2005
Posted by Scott on 08 Oct 2008 at 01:14 am | Tagged as: Overlooked Films
Whatever happened to the western? You know, flicks about quiet men with quick draws who aim to right a wrong. Last year’s 3:10 to Yuma and the upcoming Appaloosa are an attempt to revive the once great genre but it seems apparent that the western belongs to a past generation of filmmakers and movie-goers. Me, I always dig a good cowboy movie. Down in the Valley is a sorta revisionist western set in the modern-day San Fernando Valley. It can’t be confused with a John Wayne or Clint Eastwood picture, but it certainly possesses the necessary attributes.
Edward Norton plays Harlan, a man-child vagabond who fancies himself a cowboy. He looks every bit the part, down to the hat, boots and six-shooters. While odd-jobbing at a gas station Harlan meets a rebellious teen named Tobe (Evan Rachel Wood). Tobe likes Harlan’s style so she invites him to join her and her friends at the beach. Harlan accepts and soon finds himself involved with the aggressive young girl. Tobe takes Harlan home where he meets Tobe’s little brother Lonnie, a quiet lonely kid in need of a friend. Harlan likes Tobe and takes him under his wing. However, Tobe’s stern father Wade (David Morse) is immediately suspicious of the strange Harlan.
When he’s not seeing Tobe, Harlan spends his days holed-up in his ratty hotel room playing cowboy. This child-like behavior appears innocent, but a darker tone stirs below the surface. After a brush with the law, Wade forbids Tobe to see Harlan. The emotionally fragile Harlan begins to crack. He grows obsessed with the notion of running off with Tobe and starting a whole new life together. A rational Tobe doesn’t take kindly to Harlan’s delusional ideas. A tragic accident sends Harlan running for the hills with Lonnie in tow. An enraged Wade rounds up a posse and rides out looking to bring Harlan back, dead or alive. A final showdown between Harlan and Wade ends with a bloody construction site shootout. Will the bad guy be brought to justice, or will he ride off into the sunset?
What starts as a simple teen love story gradually transforms into a sullen tale about an unstable man living in the wrong century. Writer/Director David Jacobsen borrows from the “western” playbook frequently including character names (Harlan, Wade, Lonnie) as well as traditional plot points (fighting for a woman’s honor, hiding out from the law). Edward Norton is stellar in his portrayal of Harlan, a nice guy with a checkered past who is mentally disturbed. Equally good is Evan Rachel Wood. The 21 year old actress is compiling quite an impressive list of credits. Look for her later this year alongside Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. Down in the Valley is one of those smaller films that got lost in the shuffle a few years back, but it’s definitely worth a couple hours of your time.
The trailer for Down in the Valley:
