Thursday, January 3, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Breathing Lessons (1994) - Frank Galati - Anne Tyler
December 28, 1990
BREATHING LESSONS
Screenplay by Frank Galati, based on novel by Anne Tyler
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
MAGGIE MORAN, 46, is a housewife, mother of two, married to IRA MORGAN, 50, with an athletic build and a sad smile. Her daughter, DAISY, 17, is about to go off for college. Her son, JESSE, is divorced and lives in his own apartment. He had gotten married to FIONA while in high school. Jesse had gotten Fiona pregnant, so they quit high school, got married, moved in with Ira and Maggie, and had a daughter who they named LEROY. Eventually, they got divorced. Jesse sat around moping until finally he got a crummy job and moved out on his own.
We learn all about this background as Maggie and Ira head from their home in Baltimore to a funeral in Pennsylvania. Years ago, they had attended the wedding of SERENA PALERMO to MAXWELL GILL and now Max has died. En route to the funeral, Maggie starts nagging Ira to stop in Deer Lick to visit Fiona and Leroy. Ira is reluctant. They stop at a diner and Maggie tells her life story to a waitress. Back on the road, Maggie and Ira argue and makeup. They go to the funeral where Serena asks them to sing the song they sang on Serens and Max's wedding day. Reluctantly, they comply, but it appears a bizarre thing to do. At the get-together after the funeral, Serena catches Ira and Maggie fooling around in her bedroom and asks them to leave. They do. Maggie finally convinces Ira to stop and visit Fiona and Jesse. Jesse plays with Leroy while Maggie convinces Fiona to come stay at their house for a few days and try to patch things up with Jesse. Reluctantly, Fiona agrees, having been convinced that Jesse is still in love with her and wants a reconciliation.
They arrive home in Baltimore. Maggie calls Jesse and nags him to come for dinner. Reluctantly, he agrees. Ira, Maggie, Daisy, Jesse, Fiona and Leroy sit down to dinner. They begin to argue, bringing up all of the old arguments. Jesse leaves in anger. Fiona leaves, but allows Leroy to spend the night with her grandparents. Ira finally tells Maggie what a nagging, busybody she really is and has been all these years. Maggie agrees and finally realizes her life is with Ira and not about interfering with everyone else's life.
Summary Criticism: This is a sweet and charming account of a busybody, very reminiscent of "Come Home Little Sheba" in tone. The characters are realistic and sympathetic.
Breathing Lessons (1994) - imdb
Breathing Lessons (1994) - wiki
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The Bucket List (2006) - Justin Zackham
May 7, 2006
THE BUCKET LIST
Screenplay by Justin Zackham
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
Sixtysomething black mechanic CARTER CHAMBERS reluctantly gave up on his formal education in order to raise his family, but continued his love for learning by reading everything he could get his hands on. An avowed TV Jeopardy addict, Carter always has a story to tell or a historical tidbit to share. Fiftysomething wealthy businessman EDWARD COLE is the owner of the largest private hospital management firm in the region. Fun, family, and friends have taken a backseat to Edward’s compulsive and ruthless drive for money, power and personal luxury. Carter and Edward wind up sharing a hospital room while being treated for cancer.
Carter lies in bed with stacks of books surrounding him and regular visits from his wife VIRGINIA, their kids and their grandkids. Edward arrives complete with high tech accessories, a laptop computer, an expensive coffee maker, and his long suffering executive assistant THOMAS. Well aware of his patient’s wealth and position, DR. HOLCOMB begins Edward’s treatments. Carter waits and waits for his doctor to report on his status. Meanwhile, Edward and Carter get to know each other. Edward is quickly impressed with Carter’s wealth of knowledge and admires the love Carter receives from his family. Edward uses his power to have Holcomb take over Carter’s case. Both men are told their cancers are terminal and they have mere months to live. Carter and Edward decide to forgo Holcomb’s experimental treatments. They write up a list of the things they’d like to do before they “kick the bucket.” Edward offers to finance their mutual pursuit of these goals.
Despite Holcomb and Virginia’s pleas, they leave the hospital and go parachuting and get tattoos. Then they drive and play demolition derby with expensive racing cars. In Monte Carlo, they eat caviar at the best restaurant in the world. After Carter cares for Edward after a dizzy spell, Edward shares that he has been estranged from his only daughter EMILY since he framed her no good husband for embezzlement and had him sent to jail. Carter advises Edward to reconcile with her before it’s too late, but Carter refuses. When Carter tells Edward that Virginia is the only woman he has ever had sex with, Edward advises him to add sex with another woman to his list. Carter refuses. They visit exotic jungles and rivers, the Great Wall of China, and the Egyptian pyramids. In Hong Kong, Edward arranges for an elegant, expensive PROSTITUTE to flirt with Carter, but Carter turns down the sex and decides it’s time to go home. Carter arranges for Thomas to drive them to Emily’s home, but Edward refuses to go see her. Carter returns to his family. Edward returns to his work. When Edward learns Carter is close to death, he arranges for Carter to appear on Jeopardy. Both men realize how important each other has been in their lives. Carter dies and Edward eulogizes him. Edward reconciles with Emily and meets his infant granddaughter for the first time. Finally, Edward dies. Thomas buries their ashes together on Mount Everest.
Summary Criticism: A well-crafted screenplay with sympathetic characters. The cliché would be to concentrate on the conflicts between these two main characters, but this focus on the building of their friendship proves more compelling and satisfying.
The Bucket List (2007) - imdb
The Bucket List (2007) - wiki
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