The problem with dramas and especially ‘based on true story” films, I usually hold them to a greater standard. With the powerhouse actors of William Devane, Lauren Holly and Louis Gossett, Jr, I was willing to take a chance on an indie film, by a first time director who wrote the script.
Cedric Sanders does a credible job in the lead role of Richard Kelly. I hope he gets more exposure and we see more of him.
Acting, like bullshit and pornography is hard for me to define; I just know it when I see it.
John de Lancie once said that if you want to really see the acting an actor is doing, turn off the volume, for it’s in the ticks, the eye lifts, the head tilts, all the little things that an actor does that defines their ability. I did that in a scene with Lauren Holly, William Devane and Cedric Sanders.
William Devane throws in a head tilt, holding it to match Lauren Holly’s as they talk to each other, he throws in a shrug and a tilt of his eye brows. Cedric Sanders little ticks just doesn’t have that natural casualness that only comes with practice. In comparison to the veteran actors, he’s definitely the ingénue.
When I turned off the volume and watched the scene, I realized that what I really appreciate about Lauren’s performances is her eyes. She holds the other actor’s gaze and when she delivers a line, she means it. She’s got the eyebrow rise down to an art and her head tilts are exquisitely timed. Lauren plays this character perfectly.
Then last but not least, I’ve missed seeing Louis Gossett, Jr onscreen. You forget the drill sergeant, instead you see this man, facing the later years his life with an acceptance and grace I hope to someday have.
I liked the performances, but the movie was a bit slow, if I didn’t know any better, I would have thought this movie was a film adaptation of a play. One issue I had was the script; did they really talk like that back in the 60s? Even in the ‘ghetto’ scene, no one ever swore? I swear sometimes I thought they had recorded over the offending word much like they do when a theatrical release is shown on TV. We know he just said ‘bullshit’ not ‘bullcrap’. If you don’t get the dialogue right, you lose a bit of verisimilitude.
One last thing, there is a scene late in the movie where Richard discovers Kate smoking up on the roof. They are talking about faith. Kate tells Richard that the last time she heard ‘the voice’ (referring to the voice of God) was when she was staring at three coffins.
Richard: “What did the voice say?”
Kate: “I loved them too.”
My heart broke when Kate’s face broke under the onslaught of her memories and grief. When Lauren Holly cries, it brought tears to my eyes, she was dead on with her crying; unafraid to make the faces that come when we break down and devolve into primal sobbing. I'm glad to finally see a role that allows her to show off her acting chops. It was still too small a role though.
My take, if you like ‘based on true story’ drama, you’ll like this movie.
