For the
sake of not having to write the same intro a million
different ways throughout the rest of time, just know that
this column avoids the overly long and sometimes dull
process of full film reviews and instead opts to break
things down based on what I thought going in, what happened
while I was there and what I learned at the end of it all.
Thanks for reading!
The
Breakdown - The Good Heart
The Impression:
I can't really stand Paul Dano, and the idea of him playing
a lovable homeless kid brought in from the cold by a
curmudgeonly bar owner makes the corners of my mouth wet.
Brian Cox is amazing though and that's why I'll give this
film a chance.
The Reality:
A strong introduction to director Dagur Kari's work. Paul
Dano continues to leave me unimpressed as his slack-jawed
Lucas is nothing but a good bit of straight-man for Brian
Cox's near brilliant barman Jacques. I wanted nothing more
than to take Cox's beautifully conceived character and place
him in situation after situation, watching while he smoked,
drank and offended his way through each. Though the story
never stretches out of the previously viewed, Kari manages
to weave the narrative (and theme of the good heart) nicely,
crafting a film that glows with rough-edged kindness, but
doesn't pander to the sentimental set. The ending, touching
as it is, made me swell a little bit, my cold ticker thawed
for a mere moment.
The Lesson:
Keep an eye on Dagur Kari, there's big things in his future.
Noah Sanders is the blog/news editor at Light In The
Attic and a contributor at Sound On The Sound and
the KEXP blog. He also has his own
Criterion-based film site, Criterion Quest.
If you'd like to contact Noah in regards to his
writings here at Side One: Track One then please do
so
here.
- Noah Sanders
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