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| Movie Review: The Ballad of Jack and Rose Alternate Title: Five Characters in Search
of a Script
Story: Groan! Director Rebecca
Miller (daughter of the late Arthur Miller)
has a point of view that grinds on and on and on. Yes, father/daughter
relationships can be complex, but this tedious, very predictable script
(and I use the term loosely) gets stale very early on in a film that
has glimmers of brilliance but always fizzles. Filmed on the beautiful Prince Edward Island
(but supposed to be an island off the eastern coast of the US) we find
dying Jack Slavin, living with his teenage daughter Rose, on an abandoned
(and apparently failed) counter culture commune still hanging on to
his idealistic environmental ideals in a world that is rapidly encroaching
on his life. With his health failing he invites his girlfriend
(along with her two sons) to live on the island and take care of him
and his daughter. All hell breaks loose in this unhealthy new tribe
and I just did not give a damn what happened to almost all of the characters. I wanted to like this film, but cannot recommend
it to anyone unless you like to watch Daniel Day-Lewis
(and who doesn't?) Acting: Daniel Day-Lewis (husband
of director Rebecca Miller) always gives a knock out performance. He
is a larger than life presence on the big screen even in this smaller
than life film. Camilla Belle, as Rose, is a pouty,
annoying young woman.She is supposed to be the innocent, but
I found her implosion hard to believe. Catherine Keener
was fine as the girlfriend. Ryan McDonald as Rodney
was one of the saving graces in this otherwise dull film.
Predilection: I like Daniel Day-Lewis.
Critters: Chickens, a dog and an ox.
Food: Eggs, cheese sandwiches and chicken sandwiches.
Blatant Product Placement: None.
Soundtrack: Any film that has some Bob Dylan tunes
gets a few Lobo Howls and an opening title song by Credence Clearwater
sounded good to me.
Opening Titles: Type superimposed on this idyllic
locale.
Theater Audience: About 20 people, mostly women (the
Daniel Day-Lewis factor, for sure).
Predictability Level: High
Oscar Worthy: No.
Nit Picking: A re-write would have been in order.
Big Screen or Rental: Wait for cable. But, for some
Daniel Day-Lewis gems, try renting: The Gangs of
New York, The Boxer (1997), The Crucible (1996), In the Name of the
Father (1993), The Age of Innocence (1993), The Last of the Mohicans
(1992), My Left Foot (1989), Eversmile, New Jersey (1989), The Unbearable
Lightness of Being (1988), A Room with a View (1985), My Beautiful Laundrette
(1985).
Length: About two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 5 |