George-441

This is an amazing film. It is allegorical, and like all good allegories is steeped in symbolism. The most important symbol is the fact the movie is filmed on the backdrop of the French Revolution. The allegory is about mob mentality- low culture, devouring high culture. Taken in that light the movie makes perfect sense, and it highlights the very satisfying conclusion of the film. The acting by Mirren and Gambon is brilliant. The movie is visually spectacular- if shocking in spots. As we are living in an age where pop culture and sound bits are taking the place complex history and high culture, this film is a pertinent and timely statement about that process.

This was a great book and the possibilities for a truly great film were definitely there. But the casting decisions completely wrecked the movie. Hanks is a great actor to be sure, but lacks the smarmy, morally ambivalent characteristics needed for the lead role. Jeff Daniels would have been my choice.

Putting Melanie Griffiths in, for eye candy reasons, is understandable, but again, she did not portray the depth or ambivalence, so need to pull this off.

This movie is a great example of how every decision, even those early on in the movie production can make or break a file.

Many "coming of age" movies follow trite formulaic plots. Immature male or female is portrayed as misunderstood or depressed in a frequently obnoxious environment with uncaring or uncomprehending parents. Through a series of events the young person meets disillusionment, loses his or her innocence and gains maturity. This plot is true of everything from Risky Business to Porky's.

All the more remarkable then that a young actor/director should have the maturity, perspective and creative vision to put out a remarkable film, entertaining for people who are long past "coming of age" ( like 45 year olds for instance) and are slipping towards the other age- old.

This film has Natalie Portman in a truly wonderful performance as an eccentric and alive young woman who pulls the main character "Large" out of the catatonic stupor he has been in. In the process she comes to terms with her own feelings of inadequacy and strangeness.

The supporting cast is great and the setting of the Garden State "New Jersey" shows the state as it really is, not like the caricature of the state in the opening credits of the Sopranos.

A film worth seeing again.