By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Finn Taylor
Starring: Brad Hunt | Lindsay Crouse | Liz Phair | Robin Tunney | Tim Blake Nelson
Country: united_states
Year: 2002
Running time: 99
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0298798
Hilary says: “Sad to say there have been few bright spots as I’ve been slogging through my end-of-year viewing. However, when I noticed that there weren’t any posted reviews on CHERISH I wanted to put my two cents in.
“CHERISH is a twisted love story between a woman under house arrest, Zoë (Robin Tunney), and Bill (Tim Blake Nelson), the man who attaches her ankle-bracelet monitor. It is also a thriller — Zoë has not committed the crime she’ss under arrest for and she is anxious to find the guilty party, who also happens to be her stalker. This film is a little confusing, not entirely successful,
but has some noteworthy elements.
“Although I will nominate Nelson for his role as ‘Bubba’ in THE GOOD GIRL instead of this one, I wanted to acknowledge another great performance from him. Bill, all business in his short-sleeved dress shirts and striped ties, hardly knows what to make of Zoë, as she skates around her kitchen/roller rink, blasting tunes from the local 80s station (great soundtrack). Zoë
is difficult and flirtatious, which is equally confounding and alluring for Bill. In one of my favorite Bill moments, he methodically ages a brand-new boom box for Zoë, which he ‘nonchalantly’ presents claiming it was an old one he had around the house.
“Robin Tunney cant quite make up her mind as to Zoës character, but its an admirable attempt. The story first presents Zoë as the frizzy-haired neurotic outcast of her office, excluded from a coworkers hot party, falling into bed with various men who never call, with no real sense of herself. Following the trauma of her arrest she retreats into a comfortably delusional mode: dressing up in various costumes and singing into her hairdryer in the mirror. Eventually fed up with the legal process she is inspired to take a more proactive approach to her time, trying to work around the confines of her geographical limitations, first to have more physical freedom and in the process, to find her stalker.
“The supporting cast is a hoot, including indie-rock goddess Liz Phair and not one, but two, Beverly Hills 90210 cast members. Jason Priestly is hilarious as the floppy-haired BMOC/object of affection of Zoës office, particularly as presented in misty fantasy sequences.
“Hardly a life-transforming experience, but worth my two hours in between viewing dramas.”