Sometimes, late at night when I'm bored, I like to play this free associative game on the internet which is basically just comprised of me looking up something then jumping from a link on that page to something else and then seeing how far I can go and where I end up. it's not really a game, more just a way to waste time but it's fun anyways. So, I was doing this the other day when I came upon this movie i had never heard of before, "Starting out in the Evening." I was intrigued as I normally know of most major movies that have come out, and this one starred Frank Langella, who is a pretty big name. Well, one thing led to another and I started reading reviews for the movie on imdb, metacritic, nytimes.com, and eventually found a trailer for it on movies.msn.com and just knew I had to see it. So I went to the Vassar libraries website to see if they had (so I could watch it for free) and they didn't. Then I thought of going to Hollywood Video when I got home, so I checked their website and they didn't have it either. Finally, in a late night moment of weakness, I just bought the movie from Amazon and waited the three days for it to come.
Now, I am not the easiest critic to please, especially when it comes to movies. In fact, I'm kind of an asshole. But I have to say that this movie, for all of its problems and flaws, was truly remarkable. First off, it was just so refreshing to see a movie that was not made for big execs in Hollywood, but for the director himself. I warn you now, not spoiling anything, but this movie does not have an easy, climactic Hollywood ending. If you were pissed off with the ending of the Coen's Brothers "No Country for Old Men," you probably won't be much happier with this film's ending, but then again you are also a dumbass so it doesn't really matter.
One thing to remember when watching "Starting out in the Evening" is that it is a small movie. Not just financially, but artistically as well. It doesn't really try to make a grand statement, and the biggest flops in the movie are when specific characters try to make statements that are just too big for them. No, this movie is about the failed ambitions of an aging writer and it is literally trapped within his apartment and his mind, in much the same way as the writer himself is trapped. The subplots are intriguing and complex and they do not offer any moments to walk away with. But the thing that really elevates this film from a decent independent picture based on a book to a true piece of art is the acting. Not a single actor or actress in this movie, not even the bit players, give anything less than their finest performance. In many cases, you will often find yourself wondering who these actors are, for although you have probably seen them before, at least Langella, they seem very different in this movie. It is almost as though for the two hours of "Starting out inn the Evening" they are not the actors you know playing these roles but actually the characters of the film. Langella in particular provides an understated but unbelievably powerful performance, if you can even call it that, as a man who is fallen and sees no way to get up but by continuing to do what he always has.
Don't take my word for it, though, go see this movie yourself. I'll warn you, they are moments that don't work, some cheap looking footage and some odd twists that don't always add up, but overall this movie leaves you with a sense that you have seen something worth your while. At least for me, spending fifteen bucks to buy this movie was a better deal than going to see a crappy movie in theaters with a few snacks.
Now, I am not the easiest critic to please, especially when it comes to movies. In fact, I'm kind of an asshole. But I have to say that this movie, for all of its problems and flaws, was truly remarkable. First off, it was just so refreshing to see a movie that was not made for big execs in Hollywood, but for the director himself. I warn you now, not spoiling anything, but this movie does not have an easy, climactic Hollywood ending. If you were pissed off with the ending of the Coen's Brothers "No Country for Old Men," you probably won't be much happier with this film's ending, but then again you are also a dumbass so it doesn't really matter.
One thing to remember when watching "Starting out in the Evening" is that it is a small movie. Not just financially, but artistically as well. It doesn't really try to make a grand statement, and the biggest flops in the movie are when specific characters try to make statements that are just too big for them. No, this movie is about the failed ambitions of an aging writer and it is literally trapped within his apartment and his mind, in much the same way as the writer himself is trapped. The subplots are intriguing and complex and they do not offer any moments to walk away with. But the thing that really elevates this film from a decent independent picture based on a book to a true piece of art is the acting. Not a single actor or actress in this movie, not even the bit players, give anything less than their finest performance. In many cases, you will often find yourself wondering who these actors are, for although you have probably seen them before, at least Langella, they seem very different in this movie. It is almost as though for the two hours of "Starting out inn the Evening" they are not the actors you know playing these roles but actually the characters of the film. Langella in particular provides an understated but unbelievably powerful performance, if you can even call it that, as a man who is fallen and sees no way to get up but by continuing to do what he always has.
Don't take my word for it, though, go see this movie yourself. I'll warn you, they are moments that don't work, some cheap looking footage and some odd twists that don't always add up, but overall this movie leaves you with a sense that you have seen something worth your while. At least for me, spending fifteen bucks to buy this movie was a better deal than going to see a crappy movie in theaters with a few snacks.
