A brilliant film from 1988. So why is this one of my favourites as well? Well, In many ways this film is quite similar to HurlyBurly. It's sort of like HurlyBurly but with an actual storyline! Storyline, how conventionally boring right?
The film is about a young writer who is trying to make a name for himself, despite being trapped in a self-created world of drugs, a terribly mundane job as an editor and a world of pain at the loss of his wife to a career in modeling and his mother to cancer. The film appeals to me in the same way HurlyBurly does in that it celebrates and then condemns self destructive behaviour. Jamie Conway is on a path of destruction and before he can wake up, he must first go down in flames, he must hit rock bottom. His unwillingness to "wake up" on the words of Spike Lee's "School Daze" are shown in a running analogy throughout the film. The newspapers keep us updated on the situation with the "Coma baby" that seems rather stubborn to come out and join the rest of the world.
The film begins with a beautiful shot of Times Square at around 5-6am. Having experienced this view myself after a first date with a New York Girl it brings back wonderful memories. I also lived in the West Village where a lot of this is shot, there are shots of the "Village Cigars" store and the laundrette around the corner from where I lived 17 years after this film was made.
There is one scene with a ferret and Keither Sutherland that almost lowers the tone of the whole film but somehow, they manage to pull it off (literally) without hurting the film too much. The film takes place over the course of a week in the life of Jamie Conway, Sunday is humorously missed out due to a rather large hangover which induces a sleep running into the ever enjoyable Monday morning.
Michael J Fox is very likable and manges to provoke sympathy despite constantly making the wrong choices, he tries to stay in one night and write, however this doesn't last long and he's soon back out sampling some more "Bolivian marching powder" The dialogue is extremely funny in places and allows J. Fox to show off what he does best. His character is a kind of stepping stone from Back to the future to Spin City and he really captures the plight of Jamie Conway. There's something very enjoyable and interesting in living vicariously through others, especially when they're lapping up a life of such a hedonistic nature.
Great film that probably makes my top 10 favourites.
Posts
HB:
ReplyDeleteI have never seen this film and thanks for pointing it out to me These two actors come from Canada and to my mind represent the best and worst of the Canadian character. Sutherland is in real life a bit of a bully (from personal experience) despite or maybe because of an advantaged upbringing and Michael J Fox has shown himself extremely brave and bright in face of his illness, he has shown great humour and strength. He is quite amazing.
RA
Have you read "Lucky Man" Michael J Fox's autobiography? It's absolutely brilliant, one of the most moving and touching books I've read. He is extremely witty, intelligent and an amazingly poignant writer. If you haven't read this I'd highly recommned this, even if you wasn't a J.Fox fan it's a fascinating read. Couldn't put it down.
ReplyDelete