March 20, 2008
Subtle, prosaic and engrossing. Paul Haggis (director of "Crash") throws us abruptly into the predicament of a father who's son has disappeared after returning from duty in Iraq. Tommy Lee Jones plays the role of Hank Deerfield flawlessly. Himself a Vietnam veteran, Deerfield is man of few words, but behind the curt resolve (and those wolfish eyes) is a smouldering sense of the conflicts and misgivings he has felt through his own experience, both at war and as a father. The crystallisation of these, as he discovers piece by agonising piece the transformation his son was put through by service in Iraq, is genuinely heartbreaking.
Counterpointing this grim man are two equally strong women. Susan Sarandon plays a moving support as Deerfield's wife. Although the scenes between the two are brief, the deep pain that has underlined much of their marriage strains and buckles under what is not said. Combined with close, lingering camerawork, the performances of these two are unbearably real. The closest they come to outright conflict is Sarandon's incisive accusation of the veteran's expectations on his son's masculinity; "Like he could have ever felt like a man in this house if he hadn't gone."
And Charlize Theron is also convincing as the beleaguered detective and single mother. A frequent spark flies between Detective Sanders and Deerfield but a grudging respect builds as they each are humbled by the limits of their capacities. Their relationship is remeniscent of that seen between the guilt-ridden Clint Eastwood and his charge in "Million Dollar Baby"- and indeed the part of Deerfield was written with this actor in mind.
All of these characters breathe a humanity that is less theatrical than that observed in "Crash". No melodrama is required to bring these factually based events to life. Crisp scriptwriting and editing reveal very a contemporary human drama 'in real time.' Likewise, no political 'message' is required to underscore the horrific impact of warfare; on its survivors as much as its victims, and indeed on their families.
Counterpointing this grim man are two equally strong women. Susan Sarandon plays a moving support as Deerfield's wife. Although the scenes between the two are brief, the deep pain that has underlined much of their marriage strains and buckles under what is not said. Combined with close, lingering camerawork, the performances of these two are unbearably real. The closest they come to outright conflict is Sarandon's incisive accusation of the veteran's expectations on his son's masculinity; "Like he could have ever felt like a man in this house if he hadn't gone."
And Charlize Theron is also convincing as the beleaguered detective and single mother. A frequent spark flies between Detective Sanders and Deerfield but a grudging respect builds as they each are humbled by the limits of their capacities. Their relationship is remeniscent of that seen between the guilt-ridden Clint Eastwood and his charge in "Million Dollar Baby"- and indeed the part of Deerfield was written with this actor in mind.
All of these characters breathe a humanity that is less theatrical than that observed in "Crash". No melodrama is required to bring these factually based events to life. Crisp scriptwriting and editing reveal very a contemporary human drama 'in real time.' Likewise, no political 'message' is required to underscore the horrific impact of warfare; on its survivors as much as its victims, and indeed on their families.