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This was director Kenneth Lonergan second feature after a long break from the acclaimed "You Can Count On Me" from 2000. He was also the writer and has the role of the father of the main character, Lisa (Anna Paquin). The film was wrapped in 2005 but sat on the shelf when Lonergan and the studio couldn't agree on the final cut. Lonergan started with a 4 hour version and whittled it down to 3 hours. After years of legal wrangling, Martin Scorsese and his longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker were brought in to take a crack. Lonergan had worked with Scorsese on "Gangs of New York." The movie was finally released in late 2011 for a brief money losing run.
The Blu ray version I reviewed is 2 hours and 30 minutes, the same as the theatrical version but the package includes the 3 hour extended cut on a separate DVD, not Blu ray. There are no extras on either disc. The story is about a 17 year old "rich Jewish girl" played with an eye-opening performance by Paquin. Love her or hate her, you won't forget her. Out one day on the streets of NYC she spots a straw cowboy hat she wants. The problem is that it sits on the head of a city bus driver (Mark Ruffalo). Unable to get on the bus she chases him down the street waving for him to stop. He thinks she's flirting so pays more attention to her than his driving and hits a pedestrian (Allison Janney).
In a gut wrenching and elongated scene at the accident, Monica (Janney) dies in Lisa's arms. When questioned by the police, Lisa makes eye contact with the driver who is being questioned at the same time. When asked whether the bus had a green or red light, both lie and say green. Now here is an irrefutable major plot point that would seem to be easily dismissed. On a busy city street there were no other witnesses? No traffic cameras?
Putting that aside, Lisa's anguish and guilt spill over into her relationship with her mother, an actress in smallish theatrical productions. She treats a potential boyfriend (John Gallagher Jr.) harshly, instead gives her virginity to a coke-snorting hot shot (Kieran Culkin). In a social studies class Lisa engages in frequent debates with a Muslim sympathizer devolve into yelling matches that would make political talking heads proud. In her English literature class one of her classmates goes on and on debating the teacher (Matthew Broderick) about what Shakespeare meant when writing one of his plays. She flirts with her math teacher (Matt Damon).
Lonergan spends a lot of time inside high school classrooms, clearly indicating the film is about the teenagers' transition from childhood to adulthood and the difficulty of the journey. It is in the English class that Broderick's character reads a poem by 19th century author Gerard Manley Hopkins entitled "Spring and Fall: To A Young Child." The child's name was Margaret. This is a favorite poem of Lonergan's, given to him by a mentor, Patricia Broderick who is also Matthew's mother.
As Lisa's guilt builds she tries to recant her original statement but is brushed off by the police (case is closed). Frustrated she tracks down Monica's nearest relative, a cousin in Arizona who rarely spoke to her cousin. Eventually she finds Monica's best friend, Emily played by Jeannie Berlin who hasn't been seen on the big screen since the 1970's ("The Heartbreak Kid"). She is a real find and gives an award worth performance. Emily is a perfect friend and foil for the still learning Lisa. Together they form an alliance to bring a lawsuit to eventually get the bus driver fired.
For the first 90 minutes I was totally enthralled with this production, but then Lonergan keeps tossing small grenades into the fire. Lisa's mother (J. Smith-Cameron in another strong performance) struggles with a relationship with a French businessman (Jean Reno). Lisa's flirtation with her math teacher goes much too far. Lonergan obviously has a lot on his mind and wants to get it all in, but he often loses his way. The film is not very cohesive and at times frustrating and disorienting. Still...I have to say, I had a hard time sleeping and continue to think about the film. As much as I want to categorize it as a near miss, the more I think about it the more I yearn for that 4 hour version.
The Blu ray transfer is decent. Admitedly I watched it on a smaller display than I usually use but I thought the film looked a little dark and soft. It comes in 1080p with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The audio is just fine with a nice DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. The sound is mostly upfront with occasional street sounds from the surrounds. Diolog is clear and centered.
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andy
Well made but not for me
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 19, 2016Andy, Truro
Lengthy but Quality
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