First time writer/director Matthew Ryan Hoge has seen AMERICAN BEAUTY a few too many times. This film is like an entire movie following the weird neighbor Ricky from the Oscar winner. This is the film’s crucial mistake.
At the start, Leland P. Fitzgerald (Ryan Gosling, THE NOTEBOOK) stabs autistic boy Ryan Pollard (Michael Welch, STAR TREK: INSURRECTION) twenty times and laments about the sadness. Leland is an emotionally stunted young man who is consumed by emotion but cannot express it. His father -- famed writer Albert T. Fitzgerald (Kevin Spacey, AMERICAN BEAUTY) -- has no relationship with his son, except for his purchase of a trip every year for Leland. (Note: Do not name a famous writer character after a famous writer unless you are writing about the real famous writer.) Albert comes to town smelling a book, but doesn’t ever go to see his son.
Leland’s teacher in prison also smells a book. His name is Pearl Madison (Don Cheadle, HOTEL RWANDA). He meets with Leland and tries to discover his secrets, building a relationship with the boy. Here are the three most interesting characters in the film even though it also includes Ryan’s sister Julie (Michelle Williams, TV’s DAWSON’S CREEK), who is dating Allen Harris (Chris Klein, AMERICAN PIE), who actually lives with the Pollard’s because his mother died recently; Leland’s mother Marybeth (Lena Olin, THE NINTH GATE); Leland’s ex and Ryan’s other sister Becky (Jena Malone, SAVED!); Ryan’s father and mother (Martin Dovovan, SAVED! and Ann Magnuson, SMALL SOLDIERS); and Pearl’s work fling Ayesha (Kerry Washington, RAY).
However, all these other characters are developed either moderately or not at all. You watch to find out what Leland’s motivations are, but it’s all muddled in a weak treatise on mistakes and not being able to change them. This is where Leland’s actions grind against the film’s themes. To paint Leland’s murder as a mistake is insulting. There’s nothing wrong with trying to show the human side of a killer (look at DEAD MAN WALKING), but to justify the crime away with dime story pop psychology is just wrong.
Hoge develops Pearl well, but he should have been the central character instead of Leland. Spacey is great as Albert, but the screenplay doesn’t even give him a chance to confront Leland. Julie and Allen are pointless and serve as characters put into the film mainly for plot purposes. Hoge shows with this film talent and smarts, however his philosophy here isn’t sound.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
