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).