Monday, June 9, 2008

New York, Illinois

Author(s): Pierre Davis (OH)
New York, Illinois

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

Main Cast:

Radha Mitchell as Francine Tate
Liev Schreiber as Paul Jones
Casey Affleck as John Tate
Abigail Breslin as Justine Tate
Julianne Moore as Leslie Jones
Kate Winslet as Nancy Wells
Josh Brolin as George Wells
Anna Sophia Robb as Francine Wells
Skander Amin Casper as Young Paul

Tagline: "Realize Life from New York to Illinois".

Synopsis:

Skipping Out For A Friendship: Francine Wells (Anna Sophia Robb) met Paul Jones(Skander Amin Casper) when she was 14 while skipping class in the boys’ bathroom. She heard him crying inside of the bathroom stool after being teased because of his new haircut. They become quick friends and discuss things about their life that neither one of them would tell anyone else. How Paul’s Mom Leslie (Julianne Moore) is a prostitute, he has never met his father and how he was almost sold to a pimp so his mother wouldn’t get killed or how Francine’s father (Josh Brolin) is an alcoholic who went to war in Vietnam and abuses her and her mother Nancy (Kate Winslet). They begin to make up a plan on leaving the city of Illinois. When the day comes to put their plan in effect Paul is nowhere to be found at the bus station.

Unplanned Sorry: When Francine goes to Paul’s house she discovers that he and his mother are packing up. When Francine asks Paul where they are going he says that they are going to New York City to start all over. He tells her that they say if you can make it there you can make it anywhere. Francine remembers watching things about New York on T.V.; the beautiful bright lights and parties in Times Square on New Years Eve. She wishes him luck and says that she will truly miss him. He promises that he will write and the moving van leaves while Paul is mouthing Sorry.

Reality and Fate: Francine Wells now Francine Tate (Radha Mitchell) is 32 years old now still living in Illinois working with young abused kids who mirror her childhood. She is married with a daughter Justine (Abigail Breslin) and a wonderful husband by the name of John (Casey Affleck). She stopped getting letters from Paul about a month after he moved and he claimed that the move was great and he was meeting all kinds of people. She thinks about him daily and wonders what would have happened if he would have stayed, would she be Mrs. Jones? Then all of a sudden she receives a letter from Paul again who urges her to come down so they can meet up for old time’s sake. She writes Paul back and agrees. When she arrives at the airport she looks all over for the handsome overweight little kid with the bushy brown hair only to find a fragile man in a wheelchair with pale white skin holding up his hand. When she goes up to Paul (Liev Schreiber) he lets her know that he has been living with A.I.D.S since the age of 22. They begin to reminisce about the old times and what they have been doing since they split so long ago. Paul tells her that his mother died when he was 21 after she was shot by a drug dealer for stealing. He tells her stories of his young days how he first came out to his mother and how she attempted to make him straight by tying him up to his bedpost showing him the posters of Deep Throat. He also tells her how he contracted the disease from a man he thought he was in love with, Johnny, the only man who he would have died for. He then tells Francine that maybe it was his fate since God didn’t give his mom the disease and instead him. Francine lets Paul know that her parents are stronger then ever after her father put the bottle down to keep his family and how she finally loves it in the windy city. Paul admits that he wants her to stay with him for his dying days. She tells him that she has a child and a husband but lets him know that he can stay with her in his old home town.

Not Just a New York Thing: When she tells her husband John the news his homophobic side comes out. He witnessed his mother catching his father with another man. After an argument he finally gives in not wanting the situation to get in between their marriage. Even though he knows that Paul is a good person from what he heard from Francine and that A.I.D.S can’t be contracted by breathing or touching he is still reluctant to even talk to the man. When Paul moves in he immediately becomes close with Francine’s 11 year old daughter Justine to the disgust of John. They begin a bond that brings out the little boy in Paul which was just what he needed. Everything is good with the move except that John avoids all contact with Paul even trying not to touch the same plate or door knob as him. A once almost perfect marriage has grown into arguments between John and Francine. Until one day while Justine and Francine is at the grocery store Paul falls out on the floor and starts to breathe heavily. John without even thinking rushes over to Paul to hold the fragile man. Paul opens his blue eyes and says I won’t hurt you John so why do you hurt me? John begins to cry and apologizes to Paul. Francine and Justine walks in the house to find Paul in Johns arms crying and they understand that John has finally forgave his father and most importantly himself.

What The Press Would Say:

Paul Thomas Anderson brings you one on the most moving movies in years. He directs this film straight to the podium in Hollywood and lets us know that “There Will Be Blood” was just the beginning with this beautifully written screenplay. He brings this film which is mainly about the understanding of the main characters rather than just the love shared between them. The cast headed by the breathtaking performance from Radha Mitchell from “Melinda and Melinda” is phenomenal. Radha brings the character of Francine to life with her caring nature although she has an abusive past. She lets us in with every single moment she appears on screen and should get plenty of attention after being overlooked for her work in “Melinda and Melinda“. The true breakout performance is that by the A.I.D.S stricken character Paul played by Liev Schrieber from “Scream” fame. He comes out of nowhere with this Tour De Force of a performance that mirrors that of Tom Hanks. He brings a little more depth to that of Tom Hanks and shows the pain, struggle and fight for survival. He truly is a joy to watch on screen losing over 30 pounds for this film. Casey Affleck is showing why he is the future of acting with the performance of the homophobic husband John. The scene with him and Liev will bring even the toughest man to tears. The critics will just obsess over his brave and sometimes ignorant performance. Julianne Moore is amazing in the little screen time she has as the mother to Paul, living as a prostitute and struggling as a single mother. She makes the audience wonder how the woman got like that and the critics would love to see a film about her life. The scenes with her included makes every actor takes a backseat and watch a veteran bring the one of the best performances of the year. Abigail Breslin is as lovable as always and the performance by Josh Brolin who plays Francine’s father is fantastic. He also stands out as the abusive alcoholic turned family man. With a supporting cast rounded up by veteran actor Kate Winslet also Anna Sophia Robb and Skandar Amin Casper Keynes from “Bridge to Terabithia” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” plays the child versions of Francine and Paul very well, they bring us in at the beginning of the film and keeps us there. This movie will stay on your mind long after you leave the theatre helping you understand how people can change but understanding of each other overshadows the changes that they have endured over time from New York to Illinois or any state or country.

For Your Consideration:
Best Picture: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Original Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Actress: Radha Mitchell
Best Actor: Liev Schrieber
Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck
Best Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore
Best Song: New York, Illinois by Maroon 5

No comments: