Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Roger Ebert calls this film a “visionary epic.” I know because every time I go to the Sunset 5 right now, I see the trailer for this film. I think it looks quite remarkable, and when I interviewed Nick Nolte earlier this year, it was this movie he wanted to talk about more than THE HULK. What exactly is NORTHFORK? Well, I’ll let today’s reviewer explain:
Moriarty,
Hey... Wicker Man here. Long time no speak. Now the Wick don't miss a trick, and a few hours ago I had a chance to watch "Northfork," the newest ditty from the Brothers Polish, otherwise known as the Polish Brothers, or if you will, simply Mark and Michael Polish. Figured the good film lovers would love a little post on it. To put it bluntly, I loved "Twin Falls, Idaho" and missed my chance to see "Jackpot," but I'd heard great things about the new one and really wanted to see where these guys are headed.
There was speculation that they were even offered the Affleck/Caan roles in "Ocean's 11" at one point which shows that the Polish Brothers are quite an interesting team. The brothers introduced the film themselves here in Los Angeles, and it seems this film had many money troubles. Big surprise. I have to say, it's really sad that a film's bankability is determined by the cover of US magazine these days, and not by the promise of quality, but that's another rant for another day, one the regulars here at AICN can better elucidate.
This movie is a slice of Americana mixed in with some playful humor and a reflection on life, loss, and renewal. Not art deco Americana, but rather a movie which was born from and gives back to the "heartland" of America. It's both a drama and a comedy, and there are some one-liners that are very, very funny to stand alongside the serious aspects. Basically, the story revolves around the remaining inhabitants of Northfork, Montana, a shell of a town that will soon cease to exist after a dam is unleashed for the sake of a hydroelectric development. Specifically, it focuses on a small group, three pairs, of men who are assigned to evacuate those who are still left in town. One of the pairs, a father and son played by James Woods and Mark Polish, grapple with whether or not to rescue their wife/mother's coffin from the emptied soon-to-be flooded cemetery while doing the job. Each of the men is faced with the states of change and loss that have befallen their town, and how heading towards progress in the future will affect the memory of the town's past. While this is taking place, there is a simultaneous storyline which deals with a young orphan boy, who after a lengthy absence, is put back into the care of a resigned older priest, played with empathetic reserve by Nick Nolte (who, thankfully, managed to avoid turning into a flying stone beast). This particular storyline has a very sweet and moving arc which intersects with the main evacuation storyline when Woods and Polish encounter a house whose odd inhabitants (including Darryl Hannah), on a unique quest, find they have an interesting connection with the young orphan.
As usual, vagueness is not my mission, but I'm trying not to spoil Anything for anybody. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. I think this will prove that "Twin Falls" was no fluke. These guys are the real deal and it shows by the fact that a strong cast signed up for this, including Woods, Nolte, Hannah, Anthony Edwards, and the-man-who-wants-his-identity-back-from-Costner, Peter Coyote. A few other interesting names pop up who shall remain nameless.
Oh, and the look of this is fantastic, too. The cinematography is beautiful, with a black and grayish-green palette similar to "Twin Falls," and the lush scenery is fully maximized.
The bottom line is that whether you see the movie and love it, or hate it and think it's boring (I *would* advise you see the movie while fully awake, as it does have a slow and deliberate pacing), there is no denying the talent these two filmmakers possess. For pete's sake, let that count for something.
Another hot time in the old tonight...
The Wicker Man
The Polish Brothers may have been up for OCEAN’S 11 at one point, but they actually show up in THE GOOD THIEF, the Nolte film from earlier this year. Anyone wanna bet that’s where they talked him into this film?
Thanks for the review, Wick.
"Moriarty" out.
