Ahoy, squirts! Quint here typing from south of the equator looking out over a rush of bicyclists, cars driving on the wrong sides of the road, boats in a harbor and people that don't seem as perplexed as me that it's February and summer. Damn equator is messing with my mind!
Anyway, I jumped right from attending the Santa Barbara Film Festival to Sydney (which was hell, but at least I have a picture of my mass standing in front of the Opera House, right?) and then South to Wellington, my home away from home. I missed seeing Kevin Bacon at the SBIFF, which is a bummer, but I did see a really damn good film that I will start talking about... now!
RORY O'SHEA WAS HERE was on my radar due to its inclusion into SUNDANCE a couple weeks ago. My buddy, Rav, also saw a trailer for it while dodging homeless crack addicts, bullets and tranny love (this last one he wasn't completely successful in avoiding, I hear, but that's Ravvy for you) he saw a trailer for it and thought it was funny. Something about quadriplegics taking on the world in a sweet, but humorous way. He said it could be TIMMAH!: THE FEATURE FILM, but what the hell? It's Irish and it was accepted into Sundance. Good enough for me.
I'm glad I saw it. It's the only feature film I saw at SBIFF this year that I liked through and through, but then again I caught quite a lot of documentaries, so keep your eye out for those in the next day or two.
Rory O'Shea is a young man, trapped in a motorized wheelchair, only able to move what's above his neck and two fingers on his right hand. He's dumped off at a home for the disabled and his penchant for loud indie/punk music, total disrespect for authority, profanity and unwillingness to accept a life ruled by his handicap becomes a quick thorn in the sides of the home's staff and a fair share of its residents.
Included in these residents is Michael Connelly played by Steven Robertson who suffers from cerebral palsy. His mind works, but the rest of his body doesn't. He has limited use of his hands and arms, but whenever he attempts to talk his vocal chords betray him and the best we get is a series of honking sounds with a couple slightly recognizable syllables mixed in there. He has to use a book with big letters (in alphabetical order) to spell out what he wants to say. Michael takes an immediate dislike to Rory, especially since Rory's room shares a wall with his and he likes to blare his music at 3am.
Pretty quickly, though, Rory shows that he can understand Michael having spent his entire childhood with someone with even worse cerebral palsy than him. Quickly, Michael's dislike of Rory turns into a kind of hero worship. From here the movie turns into a very solid buddy movie, with Rory introducing independence into Michael's life. They leave the home about 20 minutes into the film, so don't worry if you were thinking all this took place only in a drab disabled home.
Like I said before RORY O'SHEA WAS HERE is a buddy movie. The relationship between Rory and Michael is very much like Han and Chewie, with Han always translating Wookie to those around him or addressing it in conversation, "I'm sure he's forgotten about that..." "Laugh it up, fuzzball!"
The film isn't preachy nor is it mean spirited. This isn't LAUGH AT THE CRIPPLES: THE MOVIE, but it's also not PITY THE DISABLED: THE MOVIE. We very quickly move past their disabilities, focusing on their characters. Especially when they get a hottie live in nurse that they both covet played by super hottie Romola Garai (who looks a whole lot like Dawn from THE OFFICE).
I can honestly say I have no idea if Steven Robertson has cerebral palsy or not, which is a testament to his performance if he doesn't and a testament to his acting ability if he does. James McAvoy as Rory is also fantastic, totally at ease in front of the camera, full of charm and able to masterfully balance his pride and embarrassment throughout the film without turning the movie into an after school special. He's playing Mr. Tumnus in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE this Winter and after seeing his turn as Rory, I feel confident he'll capture the kind hearted nature of Tumnus. Mark my words, he'll be huge someday very soon.
This movie won't change your life, but it's a sweet, effecting film that's a lot of fun to watch. You'll want to get to know these characters, trust me. I know this is getting a limited release in the States, so if you're not busy contributing to the miniscule Box Office for ALONE IN THE DARK, give this one a shot. I think you'll like it. It's in uber-limited release right now... keep your eye out to see if it comes to a theater near you...
So, this is it from me on this one. I have a look at a couple animated shorts (one by an 11 year old kid that is awesome and the other the newest from Don Hertzfelt) and my Nazi doco double header consisting of my opinion of NAZI GOLD IN ARGENTIA and Joe "PARADISE LOST" Berlinger's GRAY MATTER. I'll also have a look at the Dave Barry book turned film DAVE BARRY'S GUIDE TO GUYS. I also hitched a ride into a test screening of a certain summer sci-fi/comedy book adaptation that many are looking forward to. Don't panic, you'll get that review very, very soon.
'Til then, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
