Reuben, Reuben, ou la vie d'artiste

If you are not familiar with movie history, then you do not know that thousands of films have been lost over time, from the silent era onwards. And many of these movies were landmarks, because they so perfectly captured a unique time or place, or because of technical achievements or great acting. Some lost movies were even blockbusters in their time but then began to seem dated and were quickly forgotten. Reuben, Reuben is an example of a relatively modern movie that is getting that age old treatment.

Tom Conti gives a brilliant performance in this movie, and the supporting cast is great. The screenplay and direction are brilliant. And the subject matter is meaty, something adults can think on and discuss seriously. So, why is this movie virtually unheard of now?

Reuben, Reuben is of its time - the early eighties - just before excessive style, slickness, and silly 50s-style moralism and hokeyness took hold. A number of brilliant movies were release in 1983 alone - Educating Rita, Local Hero, The Big Chill, Terms of Endearment. This was a period when story telling was paramount, and movies unfolded gently, with a respect for both real and theatrical time.

I have come to believe that many of these great movies are slowly being forgotten on some conscious level; we the viewing public does not want to remember the best, as it will make us realize the amount of dreck that is now released, and make us maudlin and mournful. This pleases the movie industry no end - it would prefer to have us come back again and again for sugary confections rather than supply us with something nutritious into which we can sink our teeth.

Hopefully, the Internet and sites like IMDb will help to promote near-forgotten gems like Reuben, Reuben, encouraging young movie fans to seek them out and then spread the word of their excellence. And, possibly, with growing recognition of really good cinema, the movie industry will not be so careless and neglectful.

Tom Conti,(who was nominated for an Oscar for this role as Gowan Mcland), gives one of the most brilliant acting performances I have ever seen. I was looking forward to more meaty roles from this great actor, but he seems to have disappeared, leaving this film as his greatest legacy. His character is a genius who is out of control, but Conti's talent depicts his situation as comic and tragic at the same time-no small feat-- while being absolutely sympathetic. To today's audiences, the pace may seen slow, but all is redeemed by the ending. This has by far the best ending of any motion picture, ever. The fact that this film is not out on DVD is shameful. Interestingly, this is Kelly McGillis' "introducing" film; she was showcased and it was made clear that she was expected to be a great star. She does shine in this role. The more relevant social commentary is the portrayal of women, after they have lost that flush of young love, tend to become disillusioned. We are left wondering whether Geneva Spofford (McGillis' character) will become like the other sad society women around her. See this movie if you have the chance-it won't disappoint.

On paper, a comic fable about a randy, drunken, fading poet sounds like a recipe for disaster, but to the enormous credit of all involved, this film works very well indeed. Obviously a strong central performance is essential in films like this, and Tom Conti provides just that as the bedraggled Scottish writer charming his way into the beds of frustrated New England wives. Although the screenplay is consistently witty from start to finish, it is mainly in the second half of the film that it is also extremely moving. The romance between Conti and Kelly McGillis's young student is as obviously doomed as that of Romeo and Juliet, but just as heartbreaking too. The denouement is as sad and shocking as any in cinematic history, yet this film with its warmth and beauty and insight will surely light a fire in even the coldest of hearts.

Reuben, Reuben! Tom Conti is Gowan McGland - a drunk, burnt-out has-been poet who's been slowly drinking himself to death. So why, as one of his acquaintances asks, does he get to "bed" 'so many women? What do they find so attractive? He's a charmer and a poet. Need we say more. As they said in "Dead Poets Society," why was poetry created - to woo women, of course. As the movie opens, we see him giving a reading of his work to a group of women. Some of them obviously piqued by his naughty little self and the way he scrutinizes himself and others under a microscope to find what really makes us tick and what turns us on, on all levels. He uses this theme of an awakening of self in his work, an arousal of all senses. The film centers on him trying to write and at the same time finding women to.... Enter Kelly McGillis who sees him on a train unable to pay his ticket, so she offers to pay and then bumps into him again later in the little Massachusetts town. Gowan tries to find semblance of order of his life, when he's told by an ex that she's writing a book about her marriage to him and he dictates some feelings into a tape recorder for her use. There's not any real action, but there's plenty of stimulation, great acting by Tom Conti, and extraordinarily insightful writing in this film. I was very impressed with screenwriter Epstein's script. The thoughts and ideas and feelings here were told in such a way as to be clear and simple, while they are representative of deep, multi-layered people and their mores. Epstein has the talent to be succinct. No other film has touched me or made such a profound impact on me, since I discovered "Ordinary People." The ending is a bit abrupt and almost unexpected, almost. But, when I see it again, I'm sure it will seem like it flows together. Everything was thoughtful and deliberate and those who love film like that will fall in love with Reuben, Reuben. But, wait, his character is Gowan McGland. So who or what is Reuben? What does it mean? What DOES it mean?

This film is a delight from first frame to last. Tom Conti delivers an Oscar-worthy performance, and after seeing this movie you'll be wondering why you haven't seen more of him in the ensuing years. One memorable scene after another and some lines of dialogue which have been indelibly imprinted on my brain ever since. I had a hard time finding this film on tape. A shame that so many inferior movies can be had by the bushel, and gems like this get lost...