Movie Review: Jesus' Son

Story: OY! Let us time travel way back to 1971 where we meet an unsavory group of depraved stoners whose days are filled with misadventure, alcohol, pills and heroin. Why do we need to time travel, you say? Beats me! But this nonjudgmental film (in the manner of Drugstore Cowboy and Trainspotting) about addiction, dumb luck, compassion, rehab and redemption cold easily have been filmed in the present but the soundtrack and the outfits wouldn't have been as good. The early 70's are not a time that I feel needs to be revisited. Anyway - we find our protagonist, aptly named Fuckhead (because he screws up so much) narrating the film and explaining how he got to the point where the movie begins. In mini-episodes, we flip back and forth in time, characters are introduced, they use drugs, usually die and we move on to the next episode. I engaged in some seat shifting, head scratching, some laughs and few asides to my friend JV (an ex-Catholic - I will get the to the relevance soon) but still remained interested in the tale(s). Alison Maclean (Crush) directed this period piece from the 1993 collected short stories of Denis Johnson and did an admirable job of threading these tales together because it could easily have been a movie one would walk out on. (My friend did go out to get a popcorn refill - and she reluctantly came back.) Back to religion - I found the film had elements of religion throughout. There was a bit of faith, some miracles (although they could have been psychedelic hallucinations) healing, mysticism and of course the old standard, redemption. I must add, that my friend basically thought the film was about people who do drugs. We did both agree that after seeing this film that a good hot shower was in order upon reaching our respective homes.

Acting: Billy Crudup (who reminds me of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Brandon Cruz all grown up and very handsome) is just brilliant. I fell for him since seeing him in the wonderful, but underrated Without Limits. His range of emotions and expression is broad and deep and if he ever gets the movie break he deserves we will be seeing him for years to come. Samantha Morton (nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Sweet and Lowdown) not only speaks in this movie, but gyrates, bares all and shoots up. The scenes with Billy Crudup and her were the most interesting. A fine supporting cast of oddballs including Jack Black (who was great in High Fidelity), the comedian Denis Leary, the wonderful Holly Hunter (who does not seem to age) and the crazy as a loon, Dennis Hopper, who probably wasn't acting as he played a character in rehab.

Pets: Not very appealing scenes with a rabbit and some rabbit babies.

Soundtrack: Very early 1970's

Theater Audience: My friend and I were the only two in the balcony. This theater has a secret balcony that only the professionals know about. Downstairs there were a few stoners (but I could only see the tops of their heads).

Quirky Meter: 3

Oscar Worthy: No

Length: 109 minutes

LOBO HOWLS: 5