by Peter Morris in Los Angeles
If , like me , you think that anything with SUSAN SARANDON in it has to be worth checking out- then you won‘t be disappointed by her performance in this unusual story which is probably best summed up as a date movie with a difference.
One of Hollywood‘s best up and coming actors JAKE GYLLENHAAL ( pronouced Jill-en-hall) is staying at the home of his fiancee‘s parents ( Sarandon and DUSTIN HOFFMAN) when she is accidentally shot and killed in an incident in a local coffee shop!
The plot then develops around his relationship with his would be in-laws in the period leading up to the funeral and the trial of her killer and , of course, his battle with his conscience. This has its fair share of emotional scenes but also a surprising amount of humour too and film buffs should look for a couple of nods of recognition in homage to "The Graduate" the film which launched Hoffman on his career 35 years ago.
The film was written and directed by BRAD SILBERLING ("Casper" "City of Angels") and inspired by (although not based on) his own relationship with the parents of his ex-girlfriend, actress REBECCA SCHAEFFER who was murdered by a delusional fan in Hollywood in 1989.
There are the usual excellent performances from SARANDON and HOFFMAN and GYLLENHAAL and newcomer ELLEN POMPEO also prove they are names to watch out for in the future. Pretty good soundtrack too.
UK Release: 21st February 2003
CWW rating: 7 out of 10
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
