• First fiction feature from (previously) documentary filmmaker Kent Jones
  • Mary Kay Place is great here in the lead- best known to me previously as the mumbling secretary in Being John Malkovich
  • Estelle Parsons is also great in a few scenes at age 91 (best known for Bonnie and Clyde– her Oscar win for supporting)- my first archiveable film for her in 48 years—haha- 1970’s I Never Sang For My Father (ok I guess she’s in 1990’s Dick Tracy for a second)
  • There is a strong formal tie here- between each scene (Place oscillates between talking to friend, checking on drug-addict son, visiting cousin in hospital and volunteering) they show her driving in the grim winter weather (North East)—but sadly this form drops off
  • The slow-motion used to show the son on drugs— is also used on her later in a dream- another sign of less than perfect form
  • Again, I love the weaving of friend, cousin, son, volunteer and the way it’s weaved together- she show her making to-do lists—it’s realism, a meditation on death, guilt, duty and aging as people pass
  • Jones has a way of writing- not quite the Coen but the characters all speak the same- I like it- like 7 people say “God Damn” which isn’t realism
  • Goes into voice-over at the very end sloppily
  • Justin Chang writes about “formal ruptures” here and that’s a slippery slope- it’s a strong film but for now it’s just a recommend
  • Recommend