Edmond (2005) January 11, 2007
Posted by gproject in : Recently Viewed , trackbackDirected by: Stuart Gordon
Every so often a movie comes along that can only be described as a tour-de-force for an actor or actress. Think of Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry, or Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich. Usually it’s a movie where the whole story hinges on their part, and they know that making the film work means pulling something special out of the bag. If that’s the case, then William H Macy has his work cut out for him here.
Edmond tells a simple tale, mostly revolving around a few days in the life of its title character. On leaving work one day, Edmond (Macy) realises he is unhappy, so he stops at a fortune teller who informs him that he is ‘not where he belongs’. This causes Edmond to reassess his life and, after abruptly quitting his marriage, he descends into the seedy underworld of New York to look for a meaning. There he finds nothing but hatred, false promises and a violent streak waiting to be unleashed.
It actually reminds me in part of the Michael Douglas film Falling Down, in that it’s the unravelling of a man who has pushed himself to the edge. The difference here is that Edmond chooses his downward destiny from a reasoned state, it is only later that he begins to unwind. As mentioned, this is William H Macy’s movie, and he is barely off screen for the entire 84-minutes. His performance is excellent too, although there are also some nice turns from Hollywood actresses Julia Stiles, Denise Richards and Mena Suvari, even if their combined contribution to the movie is only a few minutes.
The Untouchables and Glengarry Glen Ross writer David Mamet does a fine job of adapting his own play for the screen, although it is apparently one of his earlier works, and this shows in some of the unnecessary broad philosophising by the main character. Meanwhile, director Stuart Gordon handles the visuals well, keeping a film shot mostly at night looking suitably vibrant or creepy as required.
I couldn’t quite get into this movie, and while the atmosphere engrossed me, the story never truly pulled me in. I also found the ending a bit of a let down, especially given the tone of the film up to that point. Without giving too much away, it’s supposed to show how Edmond has reached his destiny, although I think the whole thing feels a bit forced. Check it out if you love William H Macy though - you’ll certainly get your money’s worth.
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