Date: March 4, 2000
Cast:Mary Jo Walker - Janet McTeer
Ava Walker - Kimberly
Brown
Dan Miller - Jay O. Sanders
Jack Ranson - Gavin O'Connor
Director: Gavin O'Connor
There is a saying that life imitates art. This is normally used in examples of irony regarding things that happen in real life, that may unintentionally mock or mirror things seen or done on TV or in the movies. I believe that Hollywood film makers should pay heed to the reverse of this philosophy, by taking real life events, or stories based upon them, and using them as the basis for movies. An example of this would be Tumbleweeds, a wonderful character study based upon a simple situation that occurs more often than most of us would like to admit.
The movie tells the tale of a young woman in search of love, but looking in all the wrong places. She picks the wrong men, and is then forced to escape them by running off and seek what she is looking for elsewhere. A very painful opening sequence sets the table for the rest of the movie, depicting a fight, threats, violence, and its effect on the child involved. The domestic violence aspect is never exploited, but effectively driven home, using realistic reactions and events, instead of unnecessary violence or seemingly scripted words. She escapes, young daughter in tow, and heads west, to find what she so desperately wants.
The roles of mother and daughter are effective portrayed by Oscar nominee Janet McTeer, and Ava Brown. I could actually believe they were related because of the way they acted, and reacted to each others words and emotions. In movies where the characters are the focus, rather than the story, the writing and character development becomes key. Screenwriter XXXX does this by sandwiching real life situations such as puberty, school plays and job searching, in with the ultimate story of the search for happiness.
The reason Tumbleweeds works so well, is that seems to be a case of the director holding a mirror up to society and showing us the untainted view of the reflection. Sometimes it’s happy, sometimes it’s sad and painful, there aren’t clear cut beginnings or endings, but then again, that is how life is sometimes. It isn’t always easy, and doesn’t always wrap itself up in a neat little package, but you just know, that’s how it would be. Kudos to the writer and director for realizing how to show us, and do it right.
Ultimately, Tumbleweeds is a masterful view of how things really are, as opposed to how Hollywood seemingly wants us to think it is. It is a probing character study into the journey to find Shangri-La, minus all of the additional fluff that usually adorns these kind of movies. This could have very easily degraded into a bad movie of the week, but like Boys Don’t Cry, it skirts the edges but never really becomes preachy or crosses any unnecessary lines. You don’t have to see how things end, to know how they are. A well-done movie gives enough to let you figure it out, or come to your own conclusions without shoving it down your throat. It is powerful, real, yet relaxed and patient, and it makes you like, or hate the people accordingly. This is truly how movies should be made, future film makers take note, you don’t need explosions, slap stick, or over the top weepiness, in order to hit your target. Just open your eyes, and film what you see around you, and success should follow accordingly. ($$$1/2 out of $$$$)
Agree? Disagree, Questions? Comments?
