40/11
French A generational story about families and the special place they call home, sharing love, loss, laughter and life. Based on the comic book “Here” by Richard McGuire. It was first published as a comic book in the comics magazine “Raw” in 1989, and was expanded into a 300-page graphic novel in 2014. At one point early in the film, Richard’s father mentions several towns that he says are along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, when in fact they are all towns that are along Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania, which hadn’t even been built at the time. [clip from trailer] Richard: You know, if you want, you could spend the rest of the night here. Margaret: I could spend the rest of my life here. Features Make Believe Conga (1943). Clarinet Concerto, Pts. 1 & 2 Written by Artie Shaw Performed by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra Courtesy of RCA Records By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment. LIKES: Good acting Realism about many aspects of life Dynamic use of setting/setting Creative transitions Aging technology Some fascinating connections at times Loved the artistic point of view at the time Relevant/Relatable Emotional Summary: The film’s advertising didn’t lie to you, here’s a film that is truly one of the most unique concepts we’ve seen in a while. The film relies on using a single camera/focal location and telling a story about the impact of time on life and the people who inhabit it. Zemeckis accomplished this on many levels and managed to use the space well and keep the shot dynamic despite it being so static. The dynamic changes in the furniture help make this room fascinating, with the idea that the furniture changes are a feature of the house itself being impressive and serving as a metaphorical window into life. I loved seeing this room inhabited and the families that each took up residence in the mansion, seeing their interactions, auras and personalities shine a different light on the scene and tell their own micro-stories. The transitions were through the outlines of the photographs, drawing your attention before moving on to a new scene, the technique is fluid and rarely overdone for me. It had many creative layers but never lost the foundation of realism that makes it an enjoyable and balanced piece. As for the story and acting, a roster of top notch talent helped bring this film to life and achieve its goal of providing a glimpse into life. Here is a film that relies heavily on relevance and casting to bring that relevance to life. As for the story, it rarely strays away from the people living life, taking snippets from various periods and reflecting them back in time. The highs and lows are captured beautifully on screen and Zemeckis’ vision helps convey the concepts and hit you with the emotional punch this film promised. As the relevant stories struck me, my connection to the film only grew stronger and I found my inner self reflecting on what this film had to teach me. The acting is there to give words to the visions, with much of the dialogue poetic without being too Shakespearean in its delivery. Bettany was a treat to watch and while he isn’t as engaging or dynamic as his Disney films, he still manages to impress me with a stellar performance of the baby boomer generation dealing with the rapid changes affecting the world. Wright’s return to the screen is fierce as his character is torn between fun and frenzy, a brilliant representation of the struggles that affected so many in his shoes during the great decades of change. Hanks is, of course, just as talented as he has been, incorporating elements of his other characters into every moment of his life and he does so with the same class and vigor that he almost always brings to the screen. It’s an alchemy that works, this family atmosphere that seems so natural and almost authentic with strong indications that guide the characters and never fall too far into Hollywood representations.