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| Movie Review: Clean Alternate Title: Mommie Dearest
Story: French director Oliver
Assaya added his personal drama to this tale of melancholy,
addiction, aging rock 'n rollers, motherhood, forgiveness and redemption
by having his starring wife sign their divorce papers on the set. Ouch! Emily Wang in a Yoko Ono like role had been hooked
up with aging rocker Lee Hauser. Their drug addiction had ruined his
career and he'd been reduced to playing bad clubs and staying in rotten
motels. He overdoses, she goes to jail for heroin possession (this all
takes place in Canada) and their young son remains in the care of his
loving parents. Emily tries to clean up her act to regain custody. It
is a long, hard struggle. This oft-told tale does not unfold in the usual
style. There are no big moments, just lots of vignettes as we watch
Emily struggle. The film's melancholy is enhanced by not one ray of
sunshine regardless of the global sets. Throughout Canada, Paris and
London is seems to be raining the entire film. It is beautifully shot, interesting to watch
but I never quite connected with the main female character. If you like
good acting, character studies and stories of redemption, check out
this Cannes 2004 Best Female Actor. Acting: I am a BIG Nick Nolte fan.
He was terrific in this film as the grandfather. He was understated
and was a strong presence in every scene he played. I was nervous at
first glance because his opening shot reminded me of his infamous arrest
photo. But he got cleaned up and was great. Maggie Chueng
is wonderful as multi-lingual Emily. She must have deserved her Cannes
award.
Predilection: I repeat - I am a BIG Nick Nolte fan.
Critters: There is a London Zoo scene with zebras,
giraffes and baboons.
Food: She works as a waitress in a Chinese restaurant
so we get lots of yummy looking dishes.
Blatant Product Placement: Galoises cigarettes.
Soundtrack: Very strong and interesting.
Theater Audience: A handful of cinephiles.
Sappy Factor: 0
Squirm Scale: 1 - drug addiction is not pretty.
Drift Factor: I drifted a bit in the middle.
Oscar Worthy: No - but obviously Cannes worthy.
Nit Picking: I am not a big fan of the digital jiggly
camera.
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine. Since
I am such a BIG Nick Nolte fan, how about renting some of these favor
ties of mine: Hotel Rwanda, The Good Thief, The Thin Red Line, Affliction,
U Turn, Afterglow, Nightwatch, Mother Night, Lorenzo's Oil, The Prince
of Tides, Q & A, Farewell to the King, (New York Stories, Weeds,
Down and Out in Beverly Hills,48 Hrs, Cannery Row, Heart Beat, North
Dallas Forty, Who'll Stop the Rain and The Deep
Length: Two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 6
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