Tom Joad here again, bein’ ev’rywhere is a lot a places ta be, but I’m gittin’ these’n reviews to yas as fast as I can…
Back in Oklahoma, we is too busy working the fields to see many movies so now’s that I is in town I is gonna catch uh-lot of ‘em. As me an’ the wife an’ our friend Annette Kellerman rambled ‘bout town on the Lord’s Day, we ‘ventually found ourselves in the Austin Convention Center theater, awaitin’ the new Henry Thomas and Robin Tunney movie – NIAGARA, NIAGARA.
The story of love an’ the lengths we go to sustain it. Very good performance by Thomas who plays a juvenile delinquent with a less than desirable homelife, Tunney who plays Marcie – a troubled girl who has more to her than meets the eye.
The two are shoplifting when they first meet, immediately hitting it off and falling for each other in their awkward, unspoken way – cosmic mates – resulting in a wild roadtrip to Toronto. The two cross paths with the eternally cool Michael Parks who steals every scene he’s in, as he milks the role he’s given for every ounce of character.
The kicker here, is the very convincing Tunney and her portrayal of Marcie, and how she deals with having Tourette’s Syndrome, primarily by using either illicit prescription drugs, Jack Daniels, or sex. Seth’s unconditional love for her is severely tested time and time again as he trues his damndest to understand and cope with Marcie’s unpredictable and alarming acts of spontaneous aggression, violence, and love. Keep an eye out for Stephen Lang in a funny role. A very good an’ enjoyable flick that sucked me into another time and place for an hour and a half. Always a good thing.
Afterwards, seeing the gals off’n back to Oklahoma, I resolved to dedicate myself to a week of fun, relaxation, good conversin’, and ne’er a thought of sharecroppin’ or how much I missed the wife… this was my mindset as I headed out for the Paramount on foot in a steady, yet calming downpour of light rain – a short walk just down Third street a spell to Congress, ‘fore headin ’ north to find my destination.
