Indie Film Spotlight: "Stoker" - Starring Matthew Goode and Mia Wasikowska

Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight

Family secrets permeate director Park Chan-wook's latest film Stoker. The characters speak in hushed tones so that eavesdroppers cannot hear the horrors that pass through their lips. The secrets include mental illness, the propensity to kill, incestuous attraction and sexual awakening through an unusual fetish. No, Stoker is not for a mainstream audience, but it takes chances that most films would never even attempt and that makes it unique. 

The story centers around the death of Richard Stoker (Dermot Mulroney) in an alleged automobile accident. During his funeral, Richard's brother, Charlie (Matthew Goode), who has allegedly been traveling the world for many years, makes an unexpected appearance. Charlie soon takes up with Richard's wife, Evelyn (Nicole Kidman), and a bizarre romance develops between them. In addition, Charlie also has his eye on Richard and Evelyn daughter, India (Mia Wasikowska). India is afraid of Charlie and does everything in her power to avoid him, but there is an unmistakable attraction and connection between them. 

India has good reason to fear Charlie, as two characters who challenge him soon disappear. However, India may actually see a family resemblance in Charlie that frightens her and soon emerges after being verbally abused by a classmate, Chris Pitts (Lucas Till), who she ends up stabbing in the hand with a pencil. Later, another classmate, Whip Taylor (Alden Ehrenreich), begins to romance India, who promptly bites his tongue, resulting in a lot of blood and more than one surprising twist in this foreboding tale. Indeed, Charlie and India are more alike than she would like to admit and they grow closer until the truth about where Charlie has been all of these years comes forth. The aftermath will change their lives forever. 

Stoker is populated with unlikable characters, but the ensemble cast deliver solid performances that will hold the attention of viewers, even through the mostly hushed dialogue that makes it difficult to sometimes hear what they are saying. However, the images and sounds tell the story here, from the facial expressions of the characters to the suspenseful music, by Clint Mansell, that can be heard throughout. Director Chan-wook creates a sense of unease that may leave some viewers squirming in their seats and wanting to look away, but finding themselves being unable to do so. While I did not expect a happy ending for any of these characters, I was surprised that the film's ominous tone became even darker as the story played out, right up until the conclusion. Indeed, Stoker is not a film for the faint of heart and can be best appreciated by not passing judgement on the characters, who are all in need of some sort of help in this twist filled thriller that will surely leave an impression, for better or for worse. 

Screenplay: Wentworth Miller

Movie Recommendation: "Silver Linings Playbook" Starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence

Photo Credit: The Weinstein Company

Dealing with mental illness can be a real bitch. Just ask Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper), who is faced with completely rebuilding his life after almost killing a man who was having an affair with his wife, Nikki (Brea Bee), in the recently released film Silver Linings Playbook. Pat, who is bipolar, has spent the better part of a year in a psychiatric hospital and is now prepared to move back home with his parents, Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver), but is under strict supervision and even has a police officer assigned to keep an eye on him. Pat also appears to be suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, which causes him to fixate on Nikki, who he is forbidden from seeing, courtesy of a restraining order. Regardless, Pat is determined to reconnect with Nikki, who was "the one" for him, or at least he thought she was.

Pat's move home is not an easy one and before long it becomes clear that his obsessive compulsive disorder may have been inherited from his father, who has little rituals planned for each Philadelphia Eagles football game and relies on similar talisman to hedge lofty bets with a family "friend." While mental illness is not funny, the absurdity displayed by both Pat and Pat Sr. provides several laugh out loud moments throughout the film. Despite his problems, Pat is determined to find a silver lining in any situation, but his obsession with Nikki initially hampers his progress. However, after meeting Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a recently widowed young woman, Pat's life begins to change. After a rough start, they become running partners and develop a tentative friendship. Things really start to click for them when they make a deal - Tiffany will help Pat reconnect with Nikki if he will enter a dance competition with her.

Tiffany, like Pat, is also trying to rebuild her life after making several very bad decisions which resulted from the grief over losing her husband. She is sullen and brooding, but withholds judgement of others and does not fear confrontation. In fact, when confronted with false accusations, Tiffany stands up for herself and typically wins people over through the use of her logic and considerable intelligence. She is very likable and a good match for Pat. They are both outcasts who need each other to spark their much needed return to normalcy.

Pat gradually changes throughout the film, thanks mainly to Tiffany's support and friendship. Bradley Cooper transforms Pat from a disturbed young man to a relatively stable one in memorable, believable and completely effective performance. Viewers will root for Pat to get past his fixation on the woman who broke his heart and see Tiffany for the wonderful, if troubled, young woman that she has grown into. Jennifer Lawrence's strong-willed and sometimes heartbreaking performance is equally effective and she makes viewers care about Tiffany in a way they may not expect. Tiffany is still in recovery mode and she is reaching out for something that Pat may be able to give to her, if only he would stop thinking about Nikki. The performances from Cooper and Lawrence are award-worthy.

Director David O. Russell, who also wrote the screenplay, which is based on the novel, of the same name, by Matthew Quick, has crafted an emotional, amusing and extremely well acted film that will make viewers laugh and cry. While Tiffany and Pat drive the story, Pat Sr. takes a similar journey with them, but in his own way. They are all trying to become better people and the first step is understanding what problems they are facing and then take steps to deal with them. In Pat Sr.'s case, he does not seem to realize that he has a problem and appears baffled that his son is so troubled. They may not be one and the same, but they are darn close. Robert De Niro delivers some of his finest work as the loving, concerned and somewhat oblivious Pat Sr. The supporting cast includes strong turns from the aforementioned Jacki Weaver, as well as Chris Tucker, as Pat's friend Danny, who keeps finding ways to escape from the institution, and Anupam Kher, as Pat's psychiatrist, Dr. Patel, who fully embodies the role of therapist in their sessions together.

Silver Linings Playbook drew me in quickly to the quirky and troubled lives of Tiffany and Pat. I was not uncomfortable watching them, but I marveled at how nervous they made the other characters, who looked at them like they were from another planet. Of course, those who are not familiar with mental illness or have not suffered from disorders themselves, simply do not fully comprehend that Pat and Tiffany are just like everyone else, they just have different battles to face and problems to overcome. The performances by Cooper and Lawrence are so heartfelt that I felt inclined to jump onscreen and tell them that everyone would be OK. I can think of no greater compliment to pay either one of them.