"A condition of unknowable outcomes" is the fate in store for the characters and the viewers of John Sayles' latest endeavor.
"Limbo" unspooled Saturday on the last day of the Cannes competition to much derision from critics and festivalgoers, nearly capping a string of disappointments from world-class directors. (The final bomb was dropped later by Peter Greenaway with his widely disliked "8 1/2 Women.")
Unfortunately, there's no uncertainty about the Screen Gems release's tepid reception in store at the boxoffice, though there are many things to admire in the dramatic adventure.
Set in Alaska and filmed in and around Juneau, the picture suffers from a sloppier-than-usual first half for Sayles, who drives home the theme of Alaska's rugged commerciality as an exotic destination for tourists and potential bonanza for developers with a media-assisted sledgehammer.
The story centers on single mom Donna De Angelo Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), whose teenage daughter Noelle (Vanessa Martinez) is severely depressed over her mother's bad luck with men.
Awash with stuff about the sad fate of fish cannery workers and repetitive scenes about arrogant logging and theme-park tycoons, the first hour goes fishing for a plot. It finds one with the budding romance between Donna and a decent -- though marked by a decades-old tragedy -- local, Joe Gastineau (David Strathairn).
While his idea of a cool date is taking Donna to the mouth of a river where migrating salmon can't make it upstream, Joe is an amiable sort and comes to watch her singing act at a local hangout. Mastrantonio splendidly performs several songs and her easily romanced character enjoys the attention, but another of Joe's outings proves to be a big mistake.
This major shift in tone hinges on a poorly handled moment when Joe's recently resurfaced brother Bobby Casey Siemaszko) gives in too easily to the surprise idea of having Donna and Noelle accompany the two brothers on a boat trip that he knows could be dangerous.
Visually unexceptional up to this point, Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler finds his groove amid the glaciers, icy coastal currents and pine forests of the "last frontier," which is not close to being tamed despite the big dreams of the exploiters. The lighthearted boat trip goes bad very quickly -- in one of the film's best sequences -- and the trio of Joe, Donna and Noelle find themselves stranded on an island with no food or shelter and scant clothing against the cold.
They face a long wait before anyone comes looking for them. Mysterious bad guys who have business with Bobby prompt him to give up the search.
Thankfully, Joe knows survival skills, and the three don't perish outright. They trek a little way to a shore where they find an abandoned cabin and build a signal fire. Noelle unearths a young woman's diary and begins to read from it each night. The payoff of this seemingly minor development provides the film's one nicely engineered surprise.
Decidedly less successful is the ending, which involves the castaways' fate landing in the paws of a local fisherman (Kris Kristofferson) who has a history with Joe. One can see what Sayles is striving for -- ties that bind between individuals even as they are, or aren't, defeated by cruel fate -- but it just doesn't come off satisfactorily.
Strathairn has been better, but the longtime Sayles collaborator is well matched with Mastrantonio.
Martinez ("Lone Star") gives the best performance. Her character has mysterious depths, whereas "Limbo" overall sinks close to the bottom of Sayles' filmography. After the abrupt conclusion, one is at least rewarded with the soulful airs of Bruce Springsteen's original song "Lift Me Up".
LIMBO
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Screen Gems presents a Green/Renzi production
Credits: Writer-director-editor: John Sayles; Producer: Maggie Renzi; Director of photographer: Haskell Wexler; Production designer: Gemma Jackson; Costume designer: Shay Cunliffe; Music: Mason Daring; Casting: Lizzie Martinez. Cast:
Donna De Angelo: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio; Joe Gastineau: David Strathairn; Noelle De Angelo: Vanessa Martinez; Smilin' Jack: Kris Kristofferson; Bobby Gastineau: Casey Siemaszko; Frankie: Kathryn Grody; Lou: Rita Taggart; Harmon King: Leo Burmester; Albright: Michael Laskin. MPAA rating: R. Color/stereo. Running time -- 126 minutes.
"Limbo" unspooled Saturday on the last day of the Cannes competition to much derision from critics and festivalgoers, nearly capping a string of disappointments from world-class directors. (The final bomb was dropped later by Peter Greenaway with his widely disliked "8 1/2 Women.")
Unfortunately, there's no uncertainty about the Screen Gems release's tepid reception in store at the boxoffice, though there are many things to admire in the dramatic adventure.
Set in Alaska and filmed in and around Juneau, the picture suffers from a sloppier-than-usual first half for Sayles, who drives home the theme of Alaska's rugged commerciality as an exotic destination for tourists and potential bonanza for developers with a media-assisted sledgehammer.
The story centers on single mom Donna De Angelo Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), whose teenage daughter Noelle (Vanessa Martinez) is severely depressed over her mother's bad luck with men.
Awash with stuff about the sad fate of fish cannery workers and repetitive scenes about arrogant logging and theme-park tycoons, the first hour goes fishing for a plot. It finds one with the budding romance between Donna and a decent -- though marked by a decades-old tragedy -- local, Joe Gastineau (David Strathairn).
While his idea of a cool date is taking Donna to the mouth of a river where migrating salmon can't make it upstream, Joe is an amiable sort and comes to watch her singing act at a local hangout. Mastrantonio splendidly performs several songs and her easily romanced character enjoys the attention, but another of Joe's outings proves to be a big mistake.
This major shift in tone hinges on a poorly handled moment when Joe's recently resurfaced brother Bobby Casey Siemaszko) gives in too easily to the surprise idea of having Donna and Noelle accompany the two brothers on a boat trip that he knows could be dangerous.
Visually unexceptional up to this point, Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler finds his groove amid the glaciers, icy coastal currents and pine forests of the "last frontier," which is not close to being tamed despite the big dreams of the exploiters. The lighthearted boat trip goes bad very quickly -- in one of the film's best sequences -- and the trio of Joe, Donna and Noelle find themselves stranded on an island with no food or shelter and scant clothing against the cold.
They face a long wait before anyone comes looking for them. Mysterious bad guys who have business with Bobby prompt him to give up the search.
Thankfully, Joe knows survival skills, and the three don't perish outright. They trek a little way to a shore where they find an abandoned cabin and build a signal fire. Noelle unearths a young woman's diary and begins to read from it each night. The payoff of this seemingly minor development provides the film's one nicely engineered surprise.
Decidedly less successful is the ending, which involves the castaways' fate landing in the paws of a local fisherman (Kris Kristofferson) who has a history with Joe. One can see what Sayles is striving for -- ties that bind between individuals even as they are, or aren't, defeated by cruel fate -- but it just doesn't come off satisfactorily.
Strathairn has been better, but the longtime Sayles collaborator is well matched with Mastrantonio.
Martinez ("Lone Star") gives the best performance. Her character has mysterious depths, whereas "Limbo" overall sinks close to the bottom of Sayles' filmography. After the abrupt conclusion, one is at least rewarded with the soulful airs of Bruce Springsteen's original song "Lift Me Up".
LIMBO
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Screen Gems presents a Green/Renzi production
Credits: Writer-director-editor: John Sayles; Producer: Maggie Renzi; Director of photographer: Haskell Wexler; Production designer: Gemma Jackson; Costume designer: Shay Cunliffe; Music: Mason Daring; Casting: Lizzie Martinez. Cast:
Donna De Angelo: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio; Joe Gastineau: David Strathairn; Noelle De Angelo: Vanessa Martinez; Smilin' Jack: Kris Kristofferson; Bobby Gastineau: Casey Siemaszko; Frankie: Kathryn Grody; Lou: Rita Taggart; Harmon King: Leo Burmester; Albright: Michael Laskin. MPAA rating: R. Color/stereo. Running time -- 126 minutes.
- 5/25/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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