By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.6
Director: Tony Kaye
Starring: Adrien Brodie | Betty Kaye | Blythe Danner | Christina Hendricks | James Caan | Lucy Liu | Marcia Gay Harden
Country: united_states
Year: 2012
Running time: 97
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1683526/
Bruce says: “When AMERICAN HISTORY X made a big splash nearly fifteen years ago it seemed there might be a new director entering the master ranks. Then along came SNOWBLIND, LOBBY LOBSTER and BLACK WATER TRANSIT. Remember them? Of course not, it is unlikely any of them were released. Tony Kaye fared much better with his controversial abortion documentary LAKE OF FIRE in 2006. With such a peculiar body of work, it was hard to expect anything much from DETACHMENT.
“For those of you who saw the documentary WAITING FOR SUPERMAN or Laurent Cantet’s THE CLASS or happen to be familiar with contemporary educational controversies, the issues in DETACHMENT will not be new or shocking. Henry Barthes (Adrian Brody), a substitute teacher who habitually steps in to fill long term vacancies in the New York school system, has a new assignment. Henry is not naïve; he knows the ropes – the parents who blame the school system for all their children’s shortcomings, the absentee parents, the classroom bullies, students who think nothing of threatening teachers in and out of the classroom, the No Child Left Behind defenders who think that lazy teachers are the problem with poor test scores, and the lack of respect for the teachers from all sides.
“During the first five minutes of his new assignment Henry kicks a white kid out of class, talks back to a threatening black kid until the kid backs down, and kindly addresses a young overweight girl who is being bullied. The school principal (Marcia Gay Harden) has been told by an insensitive consultant that she is on her way out. Many teachers appear burnt out or just plain ineffective.
“Henry is hard to figure. He befriends a hooker (Sami Gayle). Her john has beaten her and is refusing to pay for a blow job. He even invites her into his home – no strings attached – then tells her she has to leave once she gets comfortable. He goes out with a fellow teacher (Cristina Hendricks) who obviously is interested in getting something started between them but he ignores her innuendoes. He encourages his students then tells them their lives will be filled with disappointment. Meredith (Betty Kaye) is the student in whom he sees the most potential. Henry may seem like a humanitarian but there is more to him than meets the eye. Flashbacks and a bit of information along the way begin to paint a picture of a damaged man who has been able to channel his energy in a positive way but is not capable of intimacy.
“Tony Kaye mixes his styles to great advantage particularly when you least expect it. He made a bold unusual choice, creating a running motif by having Henry talk to the camera as though he is being interviewed or is in a therapy session (which, one is never sure). Adrian Brody is an underutilized actor who needs a string of meaty roles like Henry to fulfill his potential. Betty Kaye, the director’s daughter, makes an auspicious debut. Hopefully she will get more chances to grow as a result of her good work here. The supporting cast is quite effective. 4 1/2 cats”
Julie says: “Just finished Tony Kaye’s DETACHMENT which was so well done! I don’t think a movie with Adrian Brodie can be bad though. It also featured James Caan and Marsha Gay Harden who had small roles but gave powerful performances. Lucy Liu and Blythe Danner also handed in stellar performances. Kaye’s daughter was in this film (her first) and did an excellent job. The entire cast was excellent. Not a weak performance in the bunch.
“I have a friend who had been a high school teacher and had plans of becoming a principal at some point but then became disheartened by it all. This is an interesting well done window into it all. 4.85 cats”