By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Christy Hall
Starring: Dakota Johnson | Marcos A. Gonzalez | Sean Penn | Shannon Gannon
Year: 2023
Running time: 101
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7461686/reference/
Brett says: “DADDIO is the first feature film from director Christy Hall. This is a one-location, two-character film that unfolds within a cab ride from JFK Airport to Hell’s Kitchen. Hall is a playwright through and through, so it may come as a surprise that her first film has so many esteemed cast and crew members attached to this cinematic project. The film stars acclaimed actors Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn, providing both of them plenty of space to spread their wings and flaunt their performance skills.
“Focusing solely on the two actors could have teetered on being self-indulgent and over-performative if it were not for a gritty, bold, and tightly-knit screenplay. It is a perfect strangers concept, featuring two characters whose age and gender differences enrich the conversations that follow.
“Most notable about the script is its subversion of recent societal trends in drawing a hard line in the sand against anyone with political, moral, and philosophical differences than our own. An alternate version of this story would’ve ended five minutes or less into the cab ride. That said, there are sure to be plenty who walk out after the credits have rolled (or perhaps even well before that) and put some of the subject matters or characterizations on blast, mostly because the writer does not undermine certain bold character statements with any retribution or comeuppance. That is, Hall refrains from excusing either character or delving too far in “saving” audiences from their worldviews or experiences. She is to be commended for letting her characters just be who they are. After all, one of the dominant themes of the whole project is about human connection outside of a digital influence and getting back to the basics of just letting people be people.
“The film’s appeal is that the cab ride is a gladiator arena for a clash of minds, a battle of wits and experiences. The Hollywood temptation might be to connect these two foes romantically by the end, but thankfully Hall wisely focuses on humanity and finding common ground through differences. 3 cats out of 5“