Vice and Virtue
Oscar overloaded? Brace yourself for the first of a new batch
You Can Count On Me
US 2000, Cert. 15
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Rating * * * 1/2
 Single mother Sammy (Laura
Linney) has her life well-organised. She works in a small-town
bank, attends church regularly, has a good-standing in the
local community. The only loose end in her neat world arrives
in the form of her unconventional brother Terry (Mark Ruffalo),
who pays a visit at about the same time as an uptight new bank
manager (Matthew Broderick) upsets her well-ordered working
routine. In trying to deal with the two disruptions in her
life, Sammy is forced to re-assess her long held values and
come to terms with her own limitations.
You Can Count On Me is the
directorial debut of playwright and screenwriter Kenneth
Lonergan, and the perceptive script elevates this unassuming
low-budget indie above the norm, producing a memorable and
poignant film, despite its humble aspirations. Lonergan's
screenplay was deservedly Oscar nominated - alas it lost out
to Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous - having also penned Analyze
This, Lonergan is a director to watch.
Strong performances by Laura
Linney, also Academy Award nominated this year, but ultimately
overshadowed by Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo and Matthew
Broderick contribute to the overall success of this piece.
Rory Culkin, brother of Macauley and Quinn, and currently
youngest of the Culkin child-acting clan, is rather good too
in an understated role as a sensitive child. Best of all, this
simple film about complex emotions, close relationships and
the coping strategies of ordinary people is utterly devoid of
slushiness.
Duke of York's from April 6
The Contender
US 2000, Cert. 15
Director: Rod Lurie
Rating * * * 1/2
The President of the United
States, Jeff Bridges in fine form, is in the process of
nominating a new Vice President. His candidate, female Senator
Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), meets with opposition from members
of both parties. One political adversary in particular (Gary
Oldman) is determined to discredit her, and reveals personal
secrets about her past in an attempt to destroy her
credibility.
Billed as a sharp political
thriller, The Contender bears many similarities to the Channel
Four TV series The West Wing. It's well made, well acted,
intricately plotted, and its production values are high.
First-time director Lurie is a former critic and entertainment
journalist, and this tells, in much the same way as the series
on C4 used real White House staff as script advisors: it all
feels authentic, and therein lies its power and entertainment
value.
This a good political yarn,
sleek and pacey, but British audiences may find the intrusive
musical fanfares excessive and the sentimental ending galling.
Bad ending aside, this is a decent enough film, but whether
it's as good as The West Wing is debatable.
Odeon from April 20
copyright New Insight 2001
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