Accidental Tourist (1988)

Lawrence Kasdan adapted Anne Tyler's novel into this mopey comedy which, oddly enough, took the New York Film Critics Circle's best picture award (a case of strategic voting getting out of hand). William Hurt plays a depressed travel writer struggling to come to terms with his son's death. He buys a dog for companionship, then hires an eccentric dog trainer (Geena Davis, who won an Oscar for her role) to teach it to behave. She, in turn, teaches him to reconnect to life. But as he is beginning to admit his feelings for her to himself, he is blindsided by the return of his estranged wife (Kathleen Turner), who attempts to rekindle their marriage. A muffled, low-key affair--so low-key that it sometimes seems positively stationary. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com essential video

Don't listen to the critical revue by Marshall Fine...

He's obviously a moron who must have watched the film half drunk. For proof of this, he states in his review that the main character, Macon -played by William Hurt- buys his dog, Edward, after his son's death and his divorce for companionship. If you watch the movie sober and with at least one eye open, it clearly shows that the dog belonged to his son and that's why Macon doesn't want to get rid of it even after it bites him, because Edward, the dog, is the last connection he has to his son. So don't let an unprofessional hack like Marshall Fine or other reviewers with questionable taste steer you away from this wonderful film. It delivers the perfect balance of comedy, drama, and romance with an amazing musical score by John Williams. November 29, 2008

From An Intentional Movie Goer

One of the most insensitive questions I ever heard a media journalist pose to an actor was just after the 1989 Academy Awards had been handed out and a TV reporter asked a seemingly besotted Kathleen Turner about her co-star Geena Davis's Oscar winning performance. "When you're making a film, can you just tell when one of your fellow actors is turning in an Oscar worthy performance." Kathleen, as seemed her wont at the time, put on an affected Spanish accent and sort of Spanish danced around the question. Neither Turner nor male lead William Hurt had even been nominated for THEIR stellar performances in this celebrated film. In a just world, they probably would have been. But then again, in a truly JUST world, would we even have these stupid Awards.

Of course, there's another very obvious reason why that reporter's question was so stupid: Turner and Davis only share a brief moment onscreen together, and they NEVER actually interact (that we see anyway). Turner may have been viewing some of the rushes, but as for actual first hand impressions of her castmate's performance, how could she possibly have had much to say on that score.

Now I know an actress as outspoken and sometimes downright brazen as Kathleen Turner hardly needs little ol' me to come to her defense, and actually, my main point is a quite different one. What I'd really like to emphasize is that when dealing with a film like ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, one that exhibits such remarkable ENSEMBLE acting, critical focus on just one of the performers actually distorts the public perception of the film's overall quality. The acting, the direction, the cinematography and the script are ALL top notch. There are a great many reasons to see ACCIDENTAL TOURIST. Geena Davis's performance as the eccentric Muriel Pritchett is but one.

I'm sure I'm not the first one to wonder if Davis isn't actually too Hollywood pretty for the role of Muriel. In the book, she comes across as a much less striking figure. Davis wears the clothes--AND the attitude--but she still looks great. If Madonna and Cyndi Lauper hadn't already gone the distance is establishing 1980s "thrift shop chic," Davis might have singlehandedly pulled it off here.

To the filmmakers credit, however, Muriel's stunning good looks are just about the only major departure from Anne Tyler's beautifully crafted novel. If ever there were a text book case on how a script might remain true to the spirit of its source novel, this may be it. The focus is rightly on William Hurt's eccentric and tormented character, the unwilling travel writer, Macon Leary and the two women in his life, his estranged wife Sarah (Turner) and the aforementioned (and equally eccentric) Muriel. But secondary characters, including Macon's three eccentric siblings, his protective (and just as offbeat) publisher-cum-future-brother-in-law, and Muriel's chronically ailing seven year old son are just as lovingly drawn. And they get just enough screen time to win our hearts.

I could only recall one of the book's subplots that got anything like short shrift in the film: Muriel's friendship with a young neighborhood mechanic who shares the use of her car, and in the book, this initially mutually beneficial relationship goes precictably awry. This relationship merits a mention in the film and then gets summarily dropped. It's the kind of cut you can pretty much understand, but readers of the book might well wonder about the wisdom of bringing it up at all. That's quibbling, I know. Viewers who have not read Tyler's book would scarcely notice the mention. And that's as it should be. This is not one of those films where you wonder if this or that allusion in the film was actually a well-developed subplot in the original source novel.

Screenwriter-director Lawrence Kasdan has certainly had his ups and downs over the years. THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST--like other films he has both written and directed (BIG CHILL, GRAND CANYON, MUMFORD)--was decidedly one of the Ups.






August 2, 2008

Deeply Moving and Richly Rewarding

William Hurt is absolutely brilliant as a man so damaged and insulated from his own life that he is about to implode in Lawrence Kasdan's adaptation of Anne Tyler's novel, perhaps the director's finest moment.

Hurt is a father who cannot make sense of the random act of violence in which his son has been killed. In so much pain he is unable to comfort his equally traumatized wife, his marriage finally falls apart because he has decided to accept evil in the world and isolate himself from love in an effort to shield himself from further pain.

Bill Pullman gives fine support as his understanding editor and friend. Hurt writes a series of books for the business person who is constantly in flight called the "Accidental Tourist." Hurt's family is a little strange and in spite of the serious subject matter Kasdan has sprinkled this film with some very funny true to life moments. One such episode involves the cooking of a Thanksgiving turkey and is hilarious!

Geena Davis is the free spirit who attempts to connect with him and assuage Hurt's anguish, winning a well deserved Oscar for her performance. Her little boy, sweet and allergic to everything, is a constant reminder to him of his own son, however, prompting him to accept a brief but unsuccessful reconciliation with wife Kathleen Turner which may cost him everything.

Hurt's tremendous performance and an understated score add to this wonderful and heartrending account of one man's personal angst as someone tries to drag him back among the living. One particularly moving scene in Davis' doorway where he expresses his inability to be like other people is absolutely devastating. Her kindness and personal generosity finally begin to wear down the walls, however, and he may just be able to love again, if it is not too late.

This is a richly rewarding film for those willing to take the time and I highly recommend it. It is a testament to our own humanity, the human spirit, and the healing power of love. August 1, 2008

Anne Tyler books and films are like a bowl of hot soup

Anne Tyler is a master of organization of many varied components. When one is in a superstore at checkout and looks at the objects on the conveyor of the person ahead, perhaps with everything from 40 packages of lime jello to a beginner acoustic guitar, one might, in a shopping daze, think about those items and where they are going, such a wide diversity of things, all ending up together. Anne Tyler's characters are like that, different, yet on a journey somewhere where they will reach a compromise, change somewhat, but remain true to themselves, become maybe more accepting of their differences.

This film is one of my all-time favorites. It is one to go to when the world seems cold. It doesn't stray much from the book, and for good reason. The book is one of her best. Some parts of the book and movie are very funny. Much of her humor comes up at moments of perplexity.

The cast could not be better. Some of Tyler's characters invite you to love them because one wonders if anyone else could. Tyler has written nearly 20 books, several have been made into films. Many other reviewers have told about the premise of the movie etc., so I won't go into that. Tyler once again seems to drive home a theme, that we should not give up, no matter how alone or different we may be, compromise a little, try something different, relax some, enjoy the consequence.


November 23, 2007

All-Star Cast in This 80's Classic Book-To-Film Adaptation

Well, this film has everything that you could expect in a Lawrence Kasdan film. I must say that the 80's were good to William Hurt who appeared in many Oscar-nominated films (Broadcast News, Accidental Tourist, Children of a Lesser God, Kiss of the Spider Woman, etc). This quiet film suddenly got the attention of the Academy, and it deserved the attention. The supporting cast is wonderful especially the Leary's household (brothers and sister). Kathleen Turner's small role deserves credit, but it's Geena Davis who really brought out the true emotions of Muriel Prichett. William Hurt's performance is subdued but that's easier said than done. I think it's an art when you don't have to act out every single line from a script. Sometimes, I think that Hurt's actions speak louder than words.

In the DVD extras, you will find this DVD has everything from a plethora of deleted scenes, trailer, and commentary from Geena Davis. The most entertaining of the extras is Geena Davis' commentary. She reveals about how she landed this role and how she prepared for her character. When you listen to her experience about the Oscar nomination announcement and then winning the Oscar, you realize that this is what a true commentary should be. Often times, you get a bunch of actors with directors who goof around and joke about certain scenes and break off into different conversations unrelated to the movie. Finally, we get an honest account of someone's experience in making the film. If only all films could have a commentary which actually focuses on the film, then we don't have to just skip it all together. August 13, 2007

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