May. 08, 2002 - 2:17 am
i can't remember why, but i felt like i needed to see this movie. so i used one of my free Movie Gallery rental coupons for the month on it. and it was decent. 7/10 probably. it's the story of a single mother, her son, and her whimsical, often unseen brother who comes to visit for a time. the mom, Samantha, has a few affairs with weak men, and her son Rudy finds a new zest for life in his unscrupulous uncle.
some critics have compared the performance of Mark Ruffalo as uncle Terry to that of Marlon Brando. i can only assume they're referring to his performance in On The Waterfront (1954). i seriously would not speak that highly of it, but he did a very good job. very convincing. of course he didn't have Elia Kazan directing him.
this is an indie movie that was directed by Kenneth Lonergan. his first film as director. it was nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Actress - Laura Linney. i think i probably would've liked this film a lot more if it had been any other actress. i hate Laura Linney. but i still gave it a 7/10 which is saying something.
it's interesting to see a film that focuses more on characters than traditional plot devices like intense conflict. my favorite film in this vein is probably Anywhere But Here (1999). i think it just works better with a more feminine story.