No. 33 (2023) A GOOD PERSON May. 7th.

 

Film No. 33  (2023)  May 7th.  10:50 AM  LUNA LEEDERVILLE,  Cine 7, Leederville.

 

"In life, of course nothing is neat and tidy." (Daniel's voice over set us up for an epic tale of tragedy, forgiveness and emotional and physical repair).

NOMINEE/WINNER : Nil

Director Zach Braff blew me away with one of my favourite light, but prophetic films (GARDEN STATE) 20 years ago. It was his first feature and while he has directed two  more major big screen features (I WISH I WAS HERE, GOING IN STYLE) prior to A GOOD PERSON, each has been a disappointment. Do I think AGP rekindles the GARDEN STATE spirit and standard? Definitely NO! 

I'm not sure what Braff is trying to say here. The extremely talented Florence Pugh is Allison. She's a loving fiancé to Nathan (Chinaza Uche) and his family adore her. Her world and that of the two families come crashing down when a car accident kills her prospective sister and brother-in law. She is the driver. Cut to ONE YEAR LATER. Allison is a mess and addicted to oxycontin. She lives at home with her mum, Diane (Molly Shannon).   The next 100 minutes is time we spend on her journey of recuperation. It becomes a tick the boxes "healing after tragedy" (ORDINARY PEOPLE) exercise. And while that will attract a crowd who love that genre (me being one) it comes down to how well the boxes are ticked. 

A GOOD PERSON,  was definitely a let-down. The performances of Pugh and Freeman (Daniel) were not. Pugh puts all her talents on show, including performing two original songs she wrote, accompanying herself on a keyboard. Braff talks about writing the film for Pugh, his muse at the time. Freeman, well it was Braff's love letter to Freeman also. Morgan gets to do his signature voice over, then oversees Daniel's love of miniature trains (Braff's as well). The set depicting Daniel's model train-scape is stunning. 

Ultimately Braff spent so much time writing for love, his friend, and a hobby, that he forgot his audience. In the U.K. they refer to things of little style, taste or substance as naff. A GOOD PERSON is NAFF!   5GUMS.