By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Danny Leiner
Starring: Edie Falco | Maggie Gyllenhaal | Olympia Dukakis | Tony Shaloub
Country: united_states
Year: 2006
Running time: 87
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402230/
Michael says: “GREAT NEW WONDERFUL is being billed as a 9/11 comedy, and the film is funny, and is also tangentially about the events of September 11, 2001, but for me this film falls squarely into the category of drama with funny moments (like MARION BRIDGE). It’s one of my favorite types of film. WONDERFUL also follows the great tradition of films like 13 CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONE THING and THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS by interweaving multiple storylines focused on different characters living in New York City. The common element is the suppressed simmering emotion they are all holding back on the verge of boiling over now that a year has passed since the tragic events from the year before.
“The anxieties faced by this group of characters is quite varied. Emme (Maggie Gyllenhaal) creates outrageously expensive, exquisitely decorated cakes, and she’s going against the Martha Stewart of cake decorating for an exclusive contract. Judy Hillerman (Olympia Dukakis) wonders if the years she has spent with her husband have been wasted as she follows her daily routine overlooked by those around her. Allison and David face job concerns, as well as disciplinary worries regarding their young son who continues to act out at school despite their best efforts. Avi and Satish act as bodyguards to a political dignitary and the pressures of their job threaten to cause tempers to flare. Then there’s Sandie (Jim Gaffigan doing a solid Philip Seymour Hoffman) as an office worker who is being counseled by Dr. Trabulous (a hilarious Tony Sahloub) about a serious accident that took the lives of his co-workers. Is he talking about the tragedy of September 11 or something similar? We’re never really sure.
“Director Danny Leiner working from a first script by Sam Catlin, does a terrific job slowly revealing these characters and their roiling emotions. The humor is natural and well integrated, and the many emotional releases are powerful and unforced. Who would have thought the director of HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE and DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR would have the gentle touch required to bring this poignant story to the screen. Clearly Leiner possesses the ability to make films that cover diverse ground. 4 cats
“The Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film co-presents GREAT NEW WONDERFUL at the Independent Film Festival of Boston, Thursday, April 20, 7:45 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts.”