Sunday, January 08, 2006
I AM DAVID
Starring Jim Caviezel, Joan Plowright
I AM DAVID, from the novel by Ann Holm, is the story of a boy (Ben Tibber) who has lived most of his life in a forced-labor camp (gulag) in Bulgaria in the early 1950’s. David was separated from his parents at a young age when they were arrested by the state for being "unpatriotic". He witnesses atrocities that no adult should ever see, much less a young boy.
Jim Caviezel plays “Johannes”, David’s only friend in the camp. Johannes only appears in flashbacks, an unselfish role for Caviezel as an actor. David is told to escape the camp and make his way to Denmark, where he must open a sealed envelope only upon his arrival there. The envelope holds the key to his freedom. He is told he must trust no one. He has to get to a seaport nearby and get on a ship bound for Italy. If he were to try overland he would surely be caught since the neighboring areas are Communist controlled. He stows away on a freighter and eventually begins his land journey in post WWII Italy amongst free people, who are the first he’s ever met. Most are trustworthy, some are not, but what David doesn’t know yet is that virtually all of them have his best interest at heart. He just cannot trust anyone.
There is an element of that same feeling as you watch I AM DAVID. You can’t let yourself believe all will turn out well (see LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, Roberto Benigni) because it often does not. I don’t know whether author Holm or director/screenwriter Paul Feig intended this, but it is part of why I was hooked by this story. I had to know.
While there are some outrageous coincidences and plot holes in the film, I AM DAVID has a beautiful look and feel. The cinematography is gorgeous. The movie was shot entirely in Bulgaria, which passes for Italy since it is in the same Mediterranean latitude.
The original score, with some haunting and beautiful passages, was written by Stewart Copeland (The Police) to atmospheric effect. Many of the films songs, both original and classical, were performed by Bulgarian singers and musicians.
Also starring in I AM DAVID is Dame Joan Plowright, widow of Sir Laurence Olivier, as Sophie, a kindly artist who befriends David and eventually wins his trust, leading to the film’s surprising and cathartic conclusion.
It is truly a shame that this film was not more aggressively marketed, resulting in its release to DVD in April 2005 only four months after its theatrical release. Virtually no one saw it in theaters.
A special feature on the DVD is a catalog of text stories of real-life modern day “David”s, children who have lost their parents or families through often horrific atrocities in places like Iraq, Somalia, Myanmar (Burma), Sudan, and Afghanistan. Reading these heart-wrenching stories of children having to journey to foreign lands to survive is difficult, but it provided a context for the film that might give some of the more cynical movie reviewers pause to ponder the reality of David’s plight, if not the details.
I AM DAVID is generally aimed a younger viewers, but it has its own rewards for the adult audience too. Give it a shot. We rented it at Blockbuster.
I AM DAVID, from the novel by Ann Holm, is the story of a boy (Ben Tibber) who has lived most of his life in a forced-labor camp (gulag) in Bulgaria in the early 1950’s. David was separated from his parents at a young age when they were arrested by the state for being "unpatriotic". He witnesses atrocities that no adult should ever see, much less a young boy.
Jim Caviezel plays “Johannes”, David’s only friend in the camp. Johannes only appears in flashbacks, an unselfish role for Caviezel as an actor. David is told to escape the camp and make his way to Denmark, where he must open a sealed envelope only upon his arrival there. The envelope holds the key to his freedom. He is told he must trust no one. He has to get to a seaport nearby and get on a ship bound for Italy. If he were to try overland he would surely be caught since the neighboring areas are Communist controlled. He stows away on a freighter and eventually begins his land journey in post WWII Italy amongst free people, who are the first he’s ever met. Most are trustworthy, some are not, but what David doesn’t know yet is that virtually all of them have his best interest at heart. He just cannot trust anyone.
There is an element of that same feeling as you watch I AM DAVID. You can’t let yourself believe all will turn out well (see LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, Roberto Benigni) because it often does not. I don’t know whether author Holm or director/screenwriter Paul Feig intended this, but it is part of why I was hooked by this story. I had to know.
While there are some outrageous coincidences and plot holes in the film, I AM DAVID has a beautiful look and feel. The cinematography is gorgeous. The movie was shot entirely in Bulgaria, which passes for Italy since it is in the same Mediterranean latitude.
The original score, with some haunting and beautiful passages, was written by Stewart Copeland (The Police) to atmospheric effect. Many of the films songs, both original and classical, were performed by Bulgarian singers and musicians.
Also starring in I AM DAVID is Dame Joan Plowright, widow of Sir Laurence Olivier, as Sophie, a kindly artist who befriends David and eventually wins his trust, leading to the film’s surprising and cathartic conclusion.
It is truly a shame that this film was not more aggressively marketed, resulting in its release to DVD in April 2005 only four months after its theatrical release. Virtually no one saw it in theaters.
A special feature on the DVD is a catalog of text stories of real-life modern day “David”s, children who have lost their parents or families through often horrific atrocities in places like Iraq, Somalia, Myanmar (Burma), Sudan, and Afghanistan. Reading these heart-wrenching stories of children having to journey to foreign lands to survive is difficult, but it provided a context for the film that might give some of the more cynical movie reviewers pause to ponder the reality of David’s plight, if not the details.
I AM DAVID is generally aimed a younger viewers, but it has its own rewards for the adult audience too. Give it a shot. We rented it at Blockbuster.
THE RINGER
Starring Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox
When I first heard the premise of THE RINGER it could be said I was not interested. When I learned who starred in it I vowed to ignore it. Then I learned that the people who organize and run the Special Olympics were *promoting* it. Hmmm...
Johnny Knoxville's character "Steve/Jeffy" is goaded by his sleazy uncle (Brian Cox, who steals every scene he's in) to fake being developmentally disabled and win the Special Olympics. The uncle will thus win a bet and give Steve the money to pay for an expensive reconstructive operation for a seriously injured friend. The uncle's motive is that he already owes the bent-nosed-thug bettor a large amount of money and will get his knees broken if he doesn't pay up or win the bet, against which he has pledged his own house.
If this were not a movie largely about the Special Olympians it might have gone straight to video, such is quality of typical MTV humor. Knoxville was the creator and star of "Jackass" the TV show and movie. Enough said. But the redeeming facet of THE RINGER is that it was produced by the Farrelly brothers, who make it a point to use disabled people in their movies. Not being a big fan of most of their previous work, I had been unaware of that fact until now.
While several disabled roles are filled by non-challenged actors, a few key ones showcase the considerable talents of some of the Special Olympians.
Steve/Jeffy's rommate "Billy" is played by Edward Barbanell, a 15-year Special Olympian who is also a Shakespearean actor. John Taylor has also been a Special Olympian, actor, and Congressional witness for Downs Syndrome advocacy. He has appeared opposite Demi Moore in THE SEVENTH SIGN, and has worked as a DJ, using his encyclopedic knowledge of 70's and 80's pop & rock music. Leonard Flowers, a multi-medal winning Special Olympics veteran of 16 years, makes his film debut as "Jimmy", the top Special Olympian whom Steve/Jeffy attempts to beat in order to win the bet.
The plot is ordinary, the jokes are sometimes crude and there is vulgarity and lewd talk, but overall the movie's heart is so much in the right place that I will give THE RINGER my recommendation with the caveat that it is not for younger people or those whose sensibilities might be offended.
When I first heard the premise of THE RINGER it could be said I was not interested. When I learned who starred in it I vowed to ignore it. Then I learned that the people who organize and run the Special Olympics were *promoting* it. Hmmm...
Johnny Knoxville's character "Steve/Jeffy" is goaded by his sleazy uncle (Brian Cox, who steals every scene he's in) to fake being developmentally disabled and win the Special Olympics. The uncle will thus win a bet and give Steve the money to pay for an expensive reconstructive operation for a seriously injured friend. The uncle's motive is that he already owes the bent-nosed-thug bettor a large amount of money and will get his knees broken if he doesn't pay up or win the bet, against which he has pledged his own house.
If this were not a movie largely about the Special Olympians it might have gone straight to video, such is quality of typical MTV humor. Knoxville was the creator and star of "Jackass" the TV show and movie. Enough said. But the redeeming facet of THE RINGER is that it was produced by the Farrelly brothers, who make it a point to use disabled people in their movies. Not being a big fan of most of their previous work, I had been unaware of that fact until now.
While several disabled roles are filled by non-challenged actors, a few key ones showcase the considerable talents of some of the Special Olympians.
Steve/Jeffy's rommate "Billy" is played by Edward Barbanell, a 15-year Special Olympian who is also a Shakespearean actor. John Taylor has also been a Special Olympian, actor, and Congressional witness for Downs Syndrome advocacy. He has appeared opposite Demi Moore in THE SEVENTH SIGN, and has worked as a DJ, using his encyclopedic knowledge of 70's and 80's pop & rock music. Leonard Flowers, a multi-medal winning Special Olympics veteran of 16 years, makes his film debut as "Jimmy", the top Special Olympian whom Steve/Jeffy attempts to beat in order to win the bet.
The plot is ordinary, the jokes are sometimes crude and there is vulgarity and lewd talk, but overall the movie's heart is so much in the right place that I will give THE RINGER my recommendation with the caveat that it is not for younger people or those whose sensibilities might be offended.
