Friday, November 1, 1996
"Dear God"
Directed by Garry Marshall
Starring Greg Kinnear and Laurie Metcalf
In the era of Post Office scandal, disgruntled federal workers
are becoming easy comedic targets. "Dear God," follows a group of
social misfits stationed in the DLO (Dead Letter Office) who
secretly open letters addressed to God and answer the prayers of
the hopeless.
The film stars Greg Kinnear (television host of "Talk Soup" and
charming co-star in "Sabrina") as Tom Turner, a con-artist who uses
every trick in the book to weasel strangers out of money.
Eventually he’s caught, and his punishment is to either go to jail
or find a full-time job for one year.
Of course, Tom thinks the judge’s requirement of 40 hours a week
is "a little excessive." He grudgingly takes a job at the Post
Office, however, and is placed in the most dreaded of departments,
the DLO.
His new co-workers have a plethora of personality disorders,
(one twitches, one lost his route for biting a dog, one is too
scared to talk) and Tom becomes their new leader.
When Tom accidentally mails his paycheck to a woman who had
written a "Dear God" letter, the DLO crew is so excited about the
joy they brought to someone less fortunate that they convince Tom
to help them answer more letters anonymously.
The movie contains some humorous scenes, but there is no
originality in the script. The characters are overdone and the
random acts of kindness are so outrageous (they save one man from
suicide and take 20 puppies to a convalescent home) that the film
loses its believability.
Kinnear is the highlight of the film and does a good job playing
the jerk that makes a change for the better. He is subtle and has
good comedic skills, and proves capable of handling a starring
role.
But the film seems painfully dragged out. An occasionally funny
scene is sandwiched between several trite and corny ones. But even
the casting of bigger names in small roles and cameos (Hector
Elizondo, Laurie Metcalf, Rue McClanahan, Coolio) isn’t enough to
make this film worthwhile.
Lori Swingle
Grade: C
"Palookaville"
Written by David Epstein
Directed by Alan Taylor
Starring Vincent Gallo and William Forsythe
Everybody wants to make "Reservoir Dogs." This is a
well-established fact in the film world. It has something to do
with the structure and the dialogue, but mostly to do with guns
being cool and swearing being fun.
Got a camera, some guy friends, and $50,000? Let’s make a heist
flick! Your sister wants to be in it too? E r… eh … well, she
can get her head shot off in the first scene!
Thus, the last five years of independent American film has been
one spastic nihilistic bloodbath after another. Films that can’t
even afford fake blood have people getting blown away and
tortured.
And then there’s "Palookaville," which could be mismarketed as a
heist flick, but stands a much better chance being sold as the
antidote to that violent breed. It’s whimsical, meandering, and
warm. And that’s cool.
"Palookaville" follows three small-town losers in their quest to
earn some extra cash. One’s still living with his mother (Vincent
Gallo), one only hangs out with his dog (William Forsythe), and the
last is married with a kid (Adam Trese). They’re certainly not
masterminds, so whether their schemes are marginally legal or
plainly illegal, they’re far from brilliant.
TV director Taylor keeps a lid on the film’s meager happenings;
no more than one plot development every 10 minutes. And his three
leads are more than happy to let the camera just sit and watch.
Gallo has the most fun, but all three play well-rounded, likable
characters.
This film seems better suited to video, where it can be quietly
discovered and savored, but with the state of independent video
distribution being what it is, you may need to make sure you catch
this in theaters.
Michael Horowitz
Grade: B
"Unhook the Stars"
Directed by Nick Cassavetes
Starring Gena Rowlands and Marisa Tomei
Since the praises of actress Gena Rowlands were sung in full in
yesterday’s issue, it would be a careless waste of precious space
to belabor the point here.
However, "Unhook the Stars" was conceived as a showcase for
Rowlands’ talents; the film was co-written and directed by her son
Nick Cassavetes (also son of the late great filmmaker John
Cassavetes), so it isn’t surprising that the film serves as a
reminder of how supremely talented the actress is. It also makes
for a promising filmmaking debut for the heir to the
Cassavetes-Rowlands legacy.
This is the story of Mildred, a widow and mother, who has her
maternal skills reactivated in the course of caring for J.J. (Jake
Lloyd), a precocious neighborhood kid whose reckless, sometimes
obnoxious, but essentially good-hearted mother Monica (Marisa
Tomei) needs Mildred to watch the child so she can work a split
shift. Of course, Mildred and Monica start off as complete
strangers but soon forge a bond of mutual respect. But it is the
characters and not the plot, which fuels "Unhook the Stars" and
makes it one of the best trips you can take to the movies this
weekend.
Like his father, Cassavetes’ actor-roots serve him well as he
demonstrates a deft hand with his actors, all of whom turn in fine
performances. And while Nick is doomed to labor in the shadow of
his father for some time to come, this well-paced, insightful,
funny and accomplished character study is worthy enough to carry on
the Cassavetes name, yet distinguishes the new director as having
an individual voice, different from his father’s.
Brandon Wilson
Grade: A-
Dear God:
Dooly (Tim Conway) shares his encyclopedic knowledge of postal
routes with Tom (Greg Kinnear).