The State Of The Union by Joel & Ethan Coen

No Country For Old Men

The brilliance of the new Coen Brothers film can be heard in the wind whistling through the bleak desert landscape. It can be seen in every perfectly constructed frame of film- a deserted nighttime street, light sneaking through a key hole, or the smirk of a hired killer. And it can be felt in every tension filled moment where the fates of people’s lives are left, literarily and figuratively, to a flip of a coin.

Based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name, No Country For Old Men is a story set in 1980 about a regular guy who inadvertently finds a bag of money and decides to keep it. Llewelyn Moss (played gruff and charismatic by Josh Brolin) is a welder who lives in a trailer and has drifted through an average life since his tour in Vietnam. Like the cowboys and pioneers of the old west, Llewelyn sees his opportunity for a better life and decides to act.

But standing in his way is good luck, bad luck, no luck, and the inevitability of circumstances. Such factors are personified by a cold and bizarrely philosophical killer named Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem, who could not have been better) and a weary small town Sheriff with the folksy name of Ed Tom (Tommy Lee Jones, using his familiar screen personae to twist the character in a prodigious performance). The plot is simple- a cat and mouse game between the 3 characters- but what lies beneath the text enriches the film and makes it extraordinary.

No Country For Old Men bends and smashes all preconceived expectations and archetypes. The Coen Brothers have made several excellent films about bags of money, ruthless hit men, and everyday people caught in the lure and swirl of crime (such as Blood Simple, Millers Crossing, Fargo, and even the hilarious The Big Lebowski). With this new effort they take all of their own cinematic history, combine it with a hundred years of westerns, gangster pictures, and hero stories to give the audience a warped masterpiece of originality.

Is it really that good?

Yes, it is.

There will be people who say it’s too violent, but the graphic depiction is crucial to the story. And there might be some who will criticize The Coens for choosing to leave key scenes out, but I believe they were invoking the Hemingway iceberg theory: if you do your job right what lurks under the surface makes what shows even stronger. And there’s sure to be some naysayers about the ending, but I believe the resolution to the story is as perfect as the silence after a symphony.

No Country For Old Men demands you to listen and pay attention and become absorbed in the world that is in front of your eyes. If you’re able to do that you’ll be rewarded with a film that somehow manages to be frightening, thrilling, and philosophical. It will also give you a profound insight into American ideas, opinions, and culture.

From Sandwich Layaway to The Director’s Chair

GONE BABY GONE

Could it really have been ten years ago that I took the red line to Kendall Cinema in Cambridge to see Good Will Hunting? At the time all I knew about that film was that it was shot in Boston, starred Robin Williams, and a couple of local guys my age wrote the screenplay and acted in it. Back then I had just finished my film program at Emerson College and wanted to do exactly what Ben Affleck & Matt Damon had accomplished.

Well . . . the two buddies from Boston went on to Oscars, action films, and superstardom. I moved to Hollywood with my Masters Degree and wrote a bunch of screenplays that caught the attention of nobody. 1997 morphed into 2007, and it seemed I had as good of chance as writing and directing a film as Affleck & Damon.

Neither had written a screenplay, either collaboratively or on their own, since Good Will Hunting. What had happened to them? Sure, Matt Damon’s reputation was pretty solid as an actor. The Talented Mr. Ripley showcased his skills, The Bourne films proved he could be an action hero, and Ocean's 11 demonstrated he was cool.

But Affleck . . . his embarrassments are well documented: Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Daredevil, and Gigi just to name a few. It just seemed the guy couldn’t make a right career choice. Even when he reunited with the director who brought out his best acting performance (Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy), the result was a disappointment (Jersey Girl).

But if you own the DVD for Good Will Hunting, I urge you to listen to the commentary. When you hear Ben Affleck talk he clearly demonstrates his knowledge of filmmaking. Here’s a guy who not only knows writing and acting, but also speaks intelligently on shot selection and cinematography.

So when the lustrous reviews of Gone Baby Gone started pouring in I wasn’t surprised. He was working off terrific source material (Dennis Lehane’s acclaimed novel), adapted the script himself (he is an Oscar winner), and shot the film entirely in his hometown of Boston.

But this is not the Boston of Good Will Hunting. To borrow the phrase Will says to Sean while they’re staring out at the serenity of The Public Garden lagoon, there are no “Tasters Choice moments”. This film is gritty Dorchester, South Boston and Chelsea. It’s the three decker houses with the chipped paint and barking dogs. It’s the dive bars where the men and women who long ago lost hope go to drink and drug their sorrows away in the afternoon.

The only time we glimpse picturesque Boston is from rooftops and bridges far away from the reality of the movie.

And the reality of “Gone Baby Gone” is harsh. The film’s plot revolves around a kidnapping of a four-year-old girl. There’s also pedophiles and psychopathic drug dealers and a whole lot of people who you spend your whole life trying to avoid.

At the center of all this madness is Patrick Kenzie (played perfectly by Casey Affleck), a small time private investigator who gets this case because he is from the neighborhood. Patrick’s partner is his girlfriend Angie (Michelle Monaghan, who’s eyes express so much depth), and although you don’t get too many personal details of their past you know they are smart, caring individuals who had the integrity to rise above all the degeneracy around them. All they want to do is make a living and be happy together.

In fact Angie doesn’t want to take the case. She says they have a good life, and doesn’t want to be involved in a missing child investigation- where statistics say they normally turn up dead or abused. But Patrick & Angie both know as insiders to the neighborhood they could actually help to rescue little Amanda. They make the decision to sacrifice the safety of their world and enter what will become a nightmare for both of them.

Gone Baby Gone works purely on the level of a crime/detective thriller. There’s mystery, suspense, gunfights and a few scenes that will rival Silence of The Lambs in getting your heart racing. Sure there’s some plot points that might border on the incredulous (true of most films in that genre), but overall the nuts and bolts of the story are grounded in reality and will keep you watching intently.

But this film is so much more than a genre piece. By shooting in these blocks and neighborhoods that nobody outside the area knows much about, Ben Affleck was able to capture the feel of the lower-middle class (the population that makes up much of America). The feel of what it’s like to be born in your hometown and be resigned to live and work there (probably at a tough job) your whole life. And by casting the film with local non-actors (who don’t have to “act” the speech and mannerisms), the authenticity is heightened. You can see it on their faces- most of these people didn’t get many choices.

I grew up not too far from where the action takes place. Lynn, Mass is a cousin to as the economically depressed Dorchester. But luckily I had great parents who provided me with as many choices as I wanted.

And that brings us right to the heart of Gone Baby Gone. In the opening voice-over Patrick says we don’t get to choose much of what defines us- our family and where we’re from. But most of us, especially the people of Boston, take extreme pride in our roots and even feel a sense of accomplishment (even though we had nothing to do with being born there). This pride can either be an asset or a hindrances to your life.

This sets up beautifully the ending of the film, where Patrick has an enormous decision to make. One that is morally ambiguous and will cause pain no matter which side he takes (I can’t spoil it by mentioning specifics). While Patrick struggles with the decision the audience gets to participate with him. But whether or not you agree with the resolution, you’re bonded with the characters and story in a way that happens rarely.

Gone Baby Gone could be the best film I’ve seen all year. Possibly Zodiac was technically better and The Darjeeling Limited more entertaining, but Ben Affleck has created something special. Let’s hope his next writing and directing project doesn’t take another decade.

Escape To The Florian Villa

There are times when you feel as if your job, your responsibilities, and your daily existence have ground your soul into chalky dust. Just waking up in the morning is a chore. Whether dulled by monotony or overwhelmed by a frantic pace, a change must be made.

But what can you do? You could quit your job and join a commune in a remote desert. There are always narcotics, whether prescribed by a doctor or procured by other means, which offer a survival of foggy indifference. Or you could simply stroll through your days in a purely perfunctory manner.

I don’t like any of those options.

For me a great trip has always reinvigorated my life. Getting far away from my routines stirs the blood and lights up those unused brain cells. And when the weather turns cold there is no better place I’d rather be than a tropical island.

This year I am going to St. John.

St. John is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and to get there you take one of the numerous non-stop flights to the more crowded St. Thomas. After landing you board a ferry and traverse azure Caribbean water. Less than an hour later you’ll be in the secluded and exotic outpost of St. John. And if you’ve made the right choice, you’ll be truly experiencing the island by staying at Florian Villa.

I’ve stayed at big hotels in tropical escapes like Key West, Aruba, and Curacao. And while I’ve enjoyed the amenities of the big chains in those locales, I’m really looking forward to experiencing a more personalized trip in small rental property. At The Florian Villa there will be no noisy neighbors, no housekeepers knocking on my door when I’m hung-over in the morning from my rum punches, and no obnoxious kids splashing in the pool when I just want to work on my tan.

But there will be personalized service, great snorkeling, hiking, secluded beaches, and that tropical air to give me serenity.

Of course I’m very lucky that one of my best friends owns the Florian Villa. Scott Whalen, who used to sling drinks next to me behind a bar but is now a Boston Fireman, recently bought the villa with his girlfriend Deb. Both had been frequent travelers to St. John and wanted to share the magic they felt with the island. Although Scott & Deb have demanding full time jobs, they have a sincere desire to be tropical hosts.

So the Florian Villa isn’t simply a rental property. It’s a place where they are going to host retreats, all inclusive vacations that will be tailored to their guest’s interests. Deb is a certified Yoga instructor and will get you completely relaxed and focused. Scott will lead snorkeling trips underneath the glass clear Caribbean water and hiking adventures in the island’s national park. They take care of all the details, and will also be providing gourmet food and drinks.

Thanksgiving week is their inaugural retreat and I will be there. I spoke with Scott yesterday and he said there might be a space or two open. So visit http://www.florianvilla.com/
to get in on the fun.

See you on the ferry. I can’t wait.