The Tavern

Horton Foote has often written incisive character studies that are dramatically underpowered, and this effort by his writer-director son follows in Dad's footsteps. The very model of a small, well-meaning, late-1990s independent movie with no major stars (the biggest, third-billed Margaret Cho, has about five minutes of screen time), it's a little-people-about-their-tasks slice-of-life drama where the good guys mess up, clean up, mess up, clean up, and commit some business errors that seem improbably naive. Cameron Dye has a nice Aidan Quinn soulfulness and Kevin Geer is quietly excellent, but they haven't much to play. As another poster mentioned, it's unconvincingly telescoped -- does all the action take place within a year, with the tavern trying so many formats and suffering so many twists of fate? Also, for what it's worth, where would the "Tavern on Main" be? It's a New York-set film with some authentic-looking locations (and others that smack of Toronto), but the only Main Street in the five boroughs is in Flushing, and these bar patrons are definitely not East Queens stock.

Walter Foote's first film, like many of his father's (Horton Foote), tells the quiet story of real people. It showcases the drama inherent in everyone's daily life. By resisting the urge to delve into fantastical or extreme scenarios, Foote tells a story that regular working people can relate to. Ronnie and Dave's journey is one that we can all easily tag along on, and sympathize with as it turns inside out.

The "Subway Band" in the movie is none other than Ireland's famous band "The Saw Doctors". Nine of their songs are used in the movie. If you ever get a chance to see them live, do it. I was never really into Irish bands, but they have a perfect combination of traditional Irish music and punk/rock.

The Tavern starts off very promising. A couple of sad sacks decide to throw dice and open a bar. Things go well, things go poorly, but the movie never seems to rise above pedestrian. If I want to see this story for real I can go talk with the owner of any local bar. It's touching--sure, but I'm not looking for this level of "reality," when I watch a movie. Besides, it isn't all that real. Each strategy for increasing business has an immediate impact -- suddenly, the place is packed! It's like the patrons were watching the movie. Otherwise how would they know instantaneously that the Tavern on Main had a new band/look/chef. 5/10.

Just to let you know. The band that plays the superb music in the film is none other than the Saw Doctors. An Irish band who have a loyal following both in the UK and in America. For further information about the band, the music, and the people. I'm pleased to say they are still playing, and writing new music. It is also worth noting that one of their key songwriters is Padraig Stevens who appears for a few seconds in the film "The Matchmaker". Which is another Irish film about a senator who looks for his heritage in Ireland!

The Saw Doctors still hold the record for the biggest selling single in Ireland with "N17"