September 25, 2002
Limbo
Yet another tour de force by one of my favorite directors, John
Sayles, Limbo brings us the story of three people thrown
together in a nearly impossible situation in the wilds of Alaska, and
shows us how this trio fights to stay alive. Yet this 1999 movie is
more than just a survival flick, as Sayles spends a lot of time
introducing the main characters, and giving us real insight into what
makes each of them tick. A typically solid effort from Sayles,
rewarding the careful viewer with wonderful insights into the human
character.
David Strathairn plays Joe Gastineau, a handyman at a lodge in Alaska with a tragedy in his past that changed his life forever. He crosses paths with Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's Donna De Angelo, a singer following her dream into the Northern Exposure, when she quits her band and strikes back out on her own, her teenage daughter in tow yet again. They gradually become interested in each other, with the added discovery that De Angelo's daughter, played by virtual newcomer Vanessa Martinez, also has a crush on Gastineau. All three are gradually explained to the viewer, with each giving masterful perfomances. Then Gastineau's slippery half brother Bobby (Casey Siemaszko) shows up, asking Joe to accompany him on a quick boat ride north.
Joe invites Donna and daughter Noelle along for the ride, and we are treated to a nice sailing scene. However, misadventure befalls them, and Joe, Donna, and Noelle are stranded on a remote island with some drug lord's thugs gunning for them. They race into the hills and manage to escape into the interior of the island, even though it leaves them with few options. They come upon an old fur trader's house and settle in, both hoping and dreading rescue. While there, Noelle uncovers a diary and reads to the others about the tough life of a fur raising family, drawing parallels with her relationship with her mother. The film ends as they are being rescued, but we are left to draw our own conclusions as to whether it is the good guys or the bad guys who rescue them!
As usual, Sayles draws out some great performances. I was particularily struck by Ms. Martinez' portrayal of teenage angst, something I'm not normally keen on watching. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, don't need to watch it again! But she is perfectly believable and the script gives her lots to do. The relationship between Gastineau and De Angelo is also a treat to watch unfold, as Sayles doesn't rush right in but instead gives us and the characters time to get to know each other. A pretty solid movie about relationships, with no easy answers - like real life relationships even! The ending is purposefully left "in limbo", because Sayles wants to emphasize the strengthening relationships by having the three of them commit to the rescue together, rather than worrying about tying up all the loose ends.
As I wrote earlier, Sayles is one of my favorite director's, but oddly enough I wouldn't say any of his movies are my favorites. They are all solid efforts, with an interesting voice, but never seem to take that leap from solid to spectacular. Limbo stays a little too detached, like you're watching a movie rather than getting involved with the people.
The DVD is just great! The pictures are beautiful and the songs in this music-filled movie are well chosen, from folk songs to a stirring guiter instrumental played during the sailing scene. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio does a particularily good job with one of my favorite Richard Thompson songs, Dimming of the Day. She sings the songs herself, as the intelligent commentary track by Sayles tells us. It also tells us that the Springsteen song that plays over the credits, is specially written for this movie and is the only song he performs entirely in falsetto.
So I'd say this is a definite must-watch, even if it isn't a must own. The commentary track is one of the few I've listened to, and Sayles gives us real insight into how to make a movie. He talks about how hard the sound is to get right on a movie, especially in a noisy car. And how difficult the lighting can be. And even the tide fighting against you, as in one scene where they have to keep moving a rock back as the tide goes out during each take! I'm constantly amazed how actors can keep their focus and intensity, take after take, and this commentary track really shows us this.
Limbo (Special Edition)
Kris Kristofferson, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Vanessa Martinez, David Straithairn, Casey Siemaszko
A small fishing community becomes a hauntingly stark reality for a woman and a local man who try to reinvent themselves in America's last frontier. Posted by jdarnold at September 25, 2002 09:34 AM
