Seen: June 6th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 9
This is one of those films I've meant to see for years. One that everyone loves but that's fallen through the cracks for me.
It's about time.
First off, I love the fact that this was filmed in black and white. It lends a tone to the film that places it firmly in the period and gives it an air of authenticity and consistency that's remarkable. The film is shot with very large depth of field. Everything is in focus. We see everything clearly, which draws us into the picture.
The long shots also draw us in. They make us a feel a part of the action. The drawn out dialogue feels like we're there.
This is a very intimate film. We're shown these characters in their entirety. Good points and bad, there's few rocks left unturned. We learn to appreciate these people for who they are, not what we suppose them to be.
The story itself is also a great one. It's unconventional and at odds not only with what we might perceive to be a normal father/daughter relationship, but also with the period is which it's set. This is hardly The Grapes of Wrath. Addie's constant evocation of Frank's philosophies is excellent. They underscore the difference between Moze and Addie and the ideal of the time. Addie's transformation, the slow erosion of her idealistic viewpoint of the world is a key point of the film.
The acting here is simply great. The interplay between Ryan and Tatum O'Neil is priceless. Their timing is so smooth and natural that again, we're drawn firmly into their world.
Tatum O'Neil won an Oscar for her performance. This doesn't surprise me. The way that she inhabits Addie is almost frightening. Perhaps she had something in common with Addie at the time, or infused her own personality into the character, but regardless, the portrayal is stunning. She plays Addie so straight, so tough and so serious that it's heartbreaking. Addie rarely smiles in the film, and the fact that she was able to maintain that level of sobriety during the filming, much less infuse the character with it is a remarkable achievement.
I really love this film. I consider it a classic.
The Good: Winning an Oscar at 10
The Bad: Growing up fast
The Ugly: Nepotism and the law
No comments:
Post a Comment