The answer to that question would be a resounding "YES!", and if you let it, it will most definitely succeed. And here's another question: remember Dustin Hoffman as Ben Braddock, the wide-eyed naif who catapulted him into the stratosphere when he was in THE GRADUATE? Well, consider the fate of a latter-day Ben Braddock. What would he look like in the New Millennium, and what kind of temptations would cause him to veer from the straight-and-narrow trajectory of what appears to be an orderly and pre-ordained existence?
Well, Ben might look like Peter Hadley (Jeremy Strong, who may be able to have a 'Hoffmanesque' career with this role if there's any justice), aspiring doctor, whose own perfectionist father (a note-perfect Peter Bogdanovich) does the unthinkable: as Peter's teacher as well, when his son fails a critical part of his exam, he flunks him out of class, thereby deep-sixing his plans of actually becoming another "GRADUATE."
And very much like Ben, Peter in his utter despair is seduced in his weakest moment of life by two "women" - one literal, one metaphorical. The literal is Bogart (Fairuza Balk in a wonderful, mannerism-free performance), a free-spirited actress/jazz singer who steals Peter's attention (and a lot more than that), and in a sense sweeps him off HIS feet when after a brief romantic encounter, she takes him home to her adoptive parents' place up in the lushly beautiful expanse of the title region. And then promptly strands him there. Where the 'metaphorical' lady picks up where Bogie left off. Many of you might know her better as "Mary Jane", and once you see how "she" changes Peter's life, you'll find it hard not to love this movie and the cast of extraordinary people that happen into his heart - and ours.
"Fish out of water" doesn't even begin to describe what Peter is, as he meets Bogart's extended family and friends, who are as eccentric as the part of the County in which they live is gorgeous. Character vet Brad Dourif gives one of the best turns of his varied career as Jack, Bogart's "dad", and SIX FEET UNDER'S wonderful Frances Conroy is luminous and hilariously complex as Rosie, her mom. Rosie is about as far a polar opposite to 6FU's Ruth Fisher as you can possibly get, and it's beautiful to see this wonderful actress so liberated, having the time of her life.
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE'S Abigail Breslin has some stiff competition with young Madison Davenport, who plays Charity, Bogart's "daughter" and Jack and Rosie's granddaughter who's wise beyond her years, but not in the conventional Hollywood "wiseacre" way that most kids' roles are written in when it comes to quirky indie flicks like this. And Chris Messina shines as Bogart's "main squeeze" Max, Charity's dad and the man who will become a pivotal influence in Peter's life.
I could say more about where this movie goes and the beautiful, sad and hysterically funny places it will take you, but it wouldn't be fair. This is one of those cases once again where the pleasure is in discovering all of that for yourself. And the friends and acquaintances you should (and probably will) tell about this movie.
I am not at all familiar with the writer/directors of this film, Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs, but the fact that they wrote it, helmed it, assembled and steered this incredible cast and STILL managed to provide two great performances as the film's best comic relief, speaks volumes about their talent. I will welcome the opportunity to see anything these two produce after this. And HUMBOLDT COUNTY, whether you ever visited there or not, is a movie that deserves a much wider audience. And I hope it finds one...much in the way that wandering Peter Hadley goes searching for a purpose, and hopefully will wind up really finding himself.
Well, Ben might look like Peter Hadley (Jeremy Strong, who may be able to have a 'Hoffmanesque' career with this role if there's any justice), aspiring doctor, whose own perfectionist father (a note-perfect Peter Bogdanovich) does the unthinkable: as Peter's teacher as well, when his son fails a critical part of his exam, he flunks him out of class, thereby deep-sixing his plans of actually becoming another "GRADUATE."
And very much like Ben, Peter in his utter despair is seduced in his weakest moment of life by two "women" - one literal, one metaphorical. The literal is Bogart (Fairuza Balk in a wonderful, mannerism-free performance), a free-spirited actress/jazz singer who steals Peter's attention (and a lot more than that), and in a sense sweeps him off HIS feet when after a brief romantic encounter, she takes him home to her adoptive parents' place up in the lushly beautiful expanse of the title region. And then promptly strands him there. Where the 'metaphorical' lady picks up where Bogie left off. Many of you might know her better as "Mary Jane", and once you see how "she" changes Peter's life, you'll find it hard not to love this movie and the cast of extraordinary people that happen into his heart - and ours.
"Fish out of water" doesn't even begin to describe what Peter is, as he meets Bogart's extended family and friends, who are as eccentric as the part of the County in which they live is gorgeous. Character vet Brad Dourif gives one of the best turns of his varied career as Jack, Bogart's "dad", and SIX FEET UNDER'S wonderful Frances Conroy is luminous and hilariously complex as Rosie, her mom. Rosie is about as far a polar opposite to 6FU's Ruth Fisher as you can possibly get, and it's beautiful to see this wonderful actress so liberated, having the time of her life.
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE'S Abigail Breslin has some stiff competition with young Madison Davenport, who plays Charity, Bogart's "daughter" and Jack and Rosie's granddaughter who's wise beyond her years, but not in the conventional Hollywood "wiseacre" way that most kids' roles are written in when it comes to quirky indie flicks like this. And Chris Messina shines as Bogart's "main squeeze" Max, Charity's dad and the man who will become a pivotal influence in Peter's life.
I could say more about where this movie goes and the beautiful, sad and hysterically funny places it will take you, but it wouldn't be fair. This is one of those cases once again where the pleasure is in discovering all of that for yourself. And the friends and acquaintances you should (and probably will) tell about this movie.
I am not at all familiar with the writer/directors of this film, Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs, but the fact that they wrote it, helmed it, assembled and steered this incredible cast and STILL managed to provide two great performances as the film's best comic relief, speaks volumes about their talent. I will welcome the opportunity to see anything these two produce after this. And HUMBOLDT COUNTY, whether you ever visited there or not, is a movie that deserves a much wider audience. And I hope it finds one...much in the way that wandering Peter Hadley goes searching for a purpose, and hopefully will wind up really finding himself.