By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.375
Director: Todd Solondz
Starring: Debra Monk | Ellen Barkin | Jennifer Jason Leigh | Matthew Faber | Richard Masur | Sharon Wilkins
Country: united_states
Year: 2005
Running time: 100
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362004/combined
Hilary says: “Not quite as aggressively offensive as HAPPINESS or STORYTELLING, but overall PALINDROMES is one unpleasant viewing experience.” 1 cat
Rick says: “Oh for crying out loud, why is it that so few people seem to like PALINDROMES?! While it isn’t quite the masterpiece that was HAPPINESS, I very much appreciated this film – and am concerned that many people won’t see it because of all the bad press. Todd Solondz is one of only a few film makers that gets fairly good distribution (though that really doesn’t seem to be the case with PALINDROMES) that actually makes films that are at all daring and thought provoking.
“Damn it, the computer lab is closing so I won’t be able to give much of a review here. But I must implore all of you who like to be engaged with ideas and have your sense of comfort challenged – please see this film! And remember – most films that are any good have a tyranny of the majority audience that doesn’t like them or is offended by them, at least at their time of release. 4.5 cats.”
Thom says: “Because I’m a huge fan of WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, STORYTELLING, & especially HAPPINESS, I had a great urge to rush out to see PALINDROMES, and I was not disappointed. Apparently, many critics can not stand his cynical approach to life, so if you haven’t liked him in the past this film is definitely not for you. The story is rather simple and takes place after the death of Dawn, the lead character in WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE. Aviva Victor is an awkward and insular thirteen-year-old that wants desperately to have a child. After her parents force an abortion on her after getting pregnant she flees home and goes off on various adventures. The most novel element of this strikingly original film is that Solondz has eight different actors play Aviva ranging in various ethnic types, ages, weights, and even sexes, in one case. While Jennifer Jason Leigh (as ‘Mark’ Aviva) heightens any film she is in, the best actor to play the part is the overweight African American actor Sharon Wilkins (you undoubtedly saw her grace NATIONAL TREASURE). She shows confusion brilliantly. Debra Monk is also fabulously memorable as Mama Sunshine. Solondz is not after easy choices or a black and white world where there’s only right and wrong. In fact the true hero of the film is Mama Sunshine, a staunch anti-abortionist and moralist, but who puts her mark right on the money by taking in deformed, unwanted, and disabled children and turns them into rousing fundamentalist performers. The film was beautifully shot, and is continually fascinating. But it is pure Solondz, although rather more focused than his other films. 5 CATS”
Michael says: “Have you noticed that most people mention in their reviews of Todd Solondz’ films whether or not they like his work? He can be such a polarizing director that people feel the need to qualify their thoughts and feelings on his work before reviewing it. Far be it for me to do otherwise. I enjoyed WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and HAPPINESS quite a bit (the latter is probably my favorite of his films.) I think I would love his films if he didn’t seem to lose control of them toward their climaxes. He suffered a misstep with his third film, STORYTELLING, especially with the first part of this two-part tale. Even though I missed his latest film, PALINDROMES, during its brief Boston run, I was able to catch up with it in NYC with Bruce. I was expecting one of those love it or hate it reactions, but I found myself coming down squarely in the middle. I think the thing that surprises me the most is the fact that Solondz even gets his films made! They deal with such controversial issues that I would expect far more protest surrounding them.
“PALINDROMES takes place several years after WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, and starts off with the funeral of a college-aged Dawn Weiner who has committed suicide. It’s too bad really, weren’t we all rooting for Dawn to make it out of the adolescent hell she’d suffered and become a success? I know I was. The focus of PALINDROMES is Aviva (a palindrome herself). She is frightened that she is going to follow in her cousin Dawn’s footsteps, only to be assured by her mother (played well by Ellen Barkin) that she is an individual and will find her own path. Aviva decides then and there that her path will be to have a lot of children that she can love. Invariably in all of Solondz’ films, things don’t turn out quite the way Aviva hoped. Her journey leads her through teen pregnancy, a botched abortion, religious fundamentalists and even murder. Through it all, Aviva struggles on against the unfairness of life until a warpedly optimistic ending.
“Solondz underscores one of the themes in the film (the fact that everything is random and we have no control over our destinies by having Aviva played by eight different actresses, from a young African American girl to Jennifer Jason Leigh. The most fascinating Aviva is Sharon Wilkins, and overweight young woman whose gentle line readings and startlingly beautiful face give Aviva an almost saintly presence. Debra Monk puts in a strong turn as the fundamentlist mother who truly cares for the children discarded by life that she gathers to her home.
“Solondz hits some interesting subjects here and isn’t afraid of controversy. But some of his heavy-handed satire takes away from the film’s elegance. Here’s hoping he keeps making these challenging films and eventually hits a perfect score. 3.5 cats”
Bruce says: “Todd Solondz’s PALINDROMES is better than I expected but not as good as what I hoped it might be. I loved Solondz’s WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and HAPPINESS was my favorite film of its year. Along came STORYTELLING, a hollow, unoriginal pretentious film.
“Heading into John Water’s territory, Solondz tells the story of Aviva a budding New Jersey teenager who has troubles at home, becomes a pregnant runaway, finds shelter in a bizarre evangelical home in Kansas, and finally bolts full circle back to her hometown. As he entertains us Solondz pokes fun at middle class values, teen angst, disabled children, and the sophistry of the overzealous religious right.
“Aviva’s story is told in chapters and in each chapter a different actor plays Aviva. Solondz is a great risk taker and the decision to use eight different Avivas is a gutsy move. It certainly keeps us on our toes, trying to connect the Aviva dots. Having Avivas of different ages, genders and races, however, does nothing to help develop Avivav’s character. Instead we are left with a ‘lots of form, little content’ situation. Throughout the film I laughed a lot. Thoroughly amused, I had only a smattering of empathy for Aviva.
“PALINDROMES is blessed with fine ensemble acting, a trademark of all Solondz films where, although the actors are permitted to shine, the film remains solidly a director’s film. As for the material, I think SAVED did a better job of skewering religious right issues. When it comes to parenting, he does a better job of hitting his target. Aviva’s mother memorized all the platitudes of middle class motherhood without understanding they must be heartfelt to register with her child.
“Solondz is an American original I’m eagerly awaiting what comes next. 3.5 cats”
Barbara says: “I have seen serval films lately and PALINDROMES is without a doubt the most disconcerting and discomfiting. After much thought I realize the topic of abortion is not what make it an unpleasant film but rather the slowness that is exuded in trying to get across the randomness of life. I do think Debra Monk as Mama Sunshine was very good. 2.5 Cats”