Better Late Then Never

Best movie ever!

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Heights (2004)An interwoven series of stories, with a stellar performance by Glenn Close as a Broadway actress (and aggressive cougar) and a steady convincing performance by Elizabeth Banks as her daughter struggling for her own path. A third thread is multi-faceted, and a bit facile, but its important, too. That is, a man is engaged to this daughter but he seems to have had—or might still have— feelings for men.If the improbabilities of coincidence seem to much (as they do to some in "Crash" or in half of Shakespeare) then this won't hold water after awhile. But as a tightly controlled piece that has characters interacting on several planes, as a theater kind of piece made for film, it's really good. It helps a lot that the acting is intensely right without being overcooked. And the direction, but the director, Christ Terrio, brings his literary background (and limited Hollywood experience) to bear very well. It's become a commonplace to film in New York with all its new upper working class charms. But that's part of the appeal to the film. There are glimpses of the theater, some rooftop views, and so on. And lots of "regular" New Yorkers, people striving for relationship and career success. Which is what we all are going through at one point or another. And really, that's where the pleasure lies, so give it a go. A good one.

Similar to other Merchant-Ivory productions this one deals with inner struggles of its characters and as with films such as Howards End, I was glued to the screen watching how these interwoven characters travelled leading to a rather surprising climax! The location shooting did make for a better sense of reality here and what a cast! Glenn Close is just tops in her role as the Shakespearean diva. A highlight is brilliant scenes of her rehearsing Macbeth. The gay plot line was very cleverly woven in as well dealing with the issue of a confused sexual identity. A mesmerizing score only helps with the inner intensity of the characters dilemmas keeping the scenarios in check without an overly dramatic interpretation being added on by this score. Sorry that this did not come to screens here where we live. Highly recommended for those wanting something more introspective and of depth. 9/10

"Heights" (2005): Glenn Close, Jesse Bradford, Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden, John Light, Isabella Rossellini, George Segal, and others star in this interpersonal stage play turned film. The structure has become a contemporary classic (cliché?): disparate people are slowly introduced and woven together through circumstance (or is it fate?). They all find transformations waiting for them on the other side of stress. I do not give enough weight to the structure to avoid recommending this story. It is well acted, moody, nicely scored and photographed, and each character is given just enough depth to be believable and worthy of caring.

Overacting, a sloppy ending, soap opera twists and a director trying to be too hip ultimately work against some good acting, mainly by the supporting cast, and what is a good fast-moving screenplay in the first two-thirds of the script to make for an OK film that had a lot going for it. There are some films which would be better if they ended at the 75 minute mark. I have to think "Heights" may be one such film. But, there is a great moment in the film when the title character goes into a hospital to check on someone she knows and gets caught up in red tape. We've all been there. Of course, people who are in the medical field may not sympathize with her as much as the rest of us. I think that one moment in the field captures what post-9/11 America is really all about-a bureaucratic nightmare devised of measures which are supposed to make us feel more secure. But, alas one great moment and a really talented, gorgeous Elizabeth Banks in the lead can only go so far.