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Well crafted, excellent performances, but not exactly entertaining.
For me , this is one of those grating reviews to write … where I really have to think about what my criteria is for deciding whether a movie is " great " , " good " , or " bad " . I ’ll admit my brushup can be subjective - I do n’t just rate picture show based on technical quality , but on how they make me palpate . They do n’t have to be " entertaining " ( see my 5 star review ofEnemies of Happinessas an example ) , but I like some variety of sense of positive " take - away " or satisfaction when I ’m done .
Technically , isThe Good Lifea great film ? Based on the script and the performances I would have to say yes . Overall , for the average watcher , is itgreat ? I ’d have to say no . At most I would call it agoodmovie .
The Good Life(very sardonically titled ) is about a 25 year guy wire named Jason who really just does n’t fit in with the Nebraska football - crazed townspeople in which he live on . Yes , I make love it sound like a high schooling " outsider " movie and for the recollective time I thought it was - because Mark Webber ( who plays Jason ) looked like a teen tyke to me . It was n’t until I did the math after a few line of duologue that I enter out his geezerhood .
The film open up with our friend walk towards a celebratory crowd of mass with a torpedo in his handwriting , the narrative describing the strong-arm effects of shoot oneself in the oral cavity . correctly there you’re able to be assured that this is n’t going to be the " Feel Good Movie of the Year . " We are inform that we are watching the terminal of the film , and it immediately cut out .
Jason ( our protagonist ) is a good bozo with a big heart who is a victim of context . Raised by a father with a sadistic streak who left the family some fourth dimension back , a somewhat clueless mother ( on the face of it irresponsible , but not in a malicious way ) who does n’t seem to have a Book of Job and is depend on Jason working two job to keep them afloat . alas Jason ’s job are minimal wage at best and are not enough to meet the monthly bill , including the electricity beak in the centre of winter . His Church Father has just institutionalise suicide , and he leaves Jason a gift which goes unopened for most of the film . We learn that at age three the family check that his sister had a sever goober allergy , and that for her 10th birthday ( if I recall correctly ) dear old pa gave her an in an elaborate way enfold bundle for her natal day that contained … a jar of peanut butter . That was dads idea of a caper . Therefore Jason ’s trepidation at open a parting gift from his father is quite understandable .
Jason also brook from alopecia , a disease that causes his body to turn down it ’s own haircloth which has caused him to be ostracized for many years both by others and within his own mind . ostensibly trapped in his townsfolk and nowhere living , we know that Jason did have a plan to escape at some point due to reference to his " motivate fund " which he has exhausted examine to meet the monthly poster at home .
Jason also tries to take forethought of Gus ( played by Harry Dean Stanton ) , who owns a local old - time moving-picture show house . Gus lost his married woman years ago but is starting to descend into Alzheimers . Jason does his best to befriend Gus , who he ’s known for five years by helping him to start the field , which shows former classic . It ’s here that Jason meets Francis ( played by Zooey Deschanel fromElf ) Bill Paxton in a small-scale and moderately creepy-crawly role .
Francine is somewhat mysterious and very intriguing , and through their relationship throws Jason a lifleline and land him some brief joy . She gives him a smell of ego - worth and validates what a good person he is . Unfortunately she has her own egress that make her damage goods , and his happiness is short - dwell .
Writer / Director Stephen Berra does an admirable job of entrance the feeling of desolation that is Jason ’s life story . The fact that he gives so much of himself and sacrifice for others , while they seemingly do n’t appreciate it and manage to do well than him ( although not much better ) . I might say that Berra doestoogood a job of it , because after a while I almost start to finger it myself , a black hole with no way out that go away on and on and on . Although it was about two hour long , it feel to me like the prolonged edition ofLord of the Rings .
I always consider that it is much more difficult to spell real - populace dialogue than it is to compose what is said in an activity flick , so Berra gets degree for that . It was very substantial , and for lack of a good description , quiet or muted , fitting in with the beaten down emotions of the characters .
The acting was excellent , from everyone involved . Webber definitely trance the poignancy of a beat out down someone , accepting everything bad that happen up until a break gunpoint that must come . As in her performance inElf , Zooey Deschanel here has an almost ethereal lineament … almost as if she ’s not of this world . She is very compelling when she is onscreen . Bill Paxton , who commonly plays a lovable guy was cheerful in a positively creepy way . Harry Dean Stanton , another spectacular carrying into action , straddle the production line between lucidity and dementia . And then there ’s Chris Klein ( fromAmerican Pie ) in a bear out purpose that made me somehow laugh and wild at the same clip .
One scene I could have done without ( and to me really seemed like non - sequiter ) take place in a gay legal profession , with a straightaway guesswork of two guys trying to withdraw each other ’s tounges . I really did n’t need to see that and when thinking about the moving-picture show as a whole , I do n’t really see what the period of that scene was . Really the only rationality it seemed to be in there was because it was an indie cinema and one must show solidarity .
Out of respect for the carrying out and the screenwriting , I ’ll give this one .
Overall this is n’t for everyone , but if you ’re into angst - ridden movies this is probably for you .
