By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Campbell Scott
Starring: Amy Brenneman | J.D. Garfield | J.K. Simmons | Joan Allen | Sam Elliott | Valentina de Angelis
Country: united_states
Year: 2005
Running time: 105
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332285/combined
Michael says: “The solo directorial effort by actor Campbell Scott (he co-directed BIG NIGHT) is a meditation on place, looking
at the mystical, transformative powers of New Mexico through a quiet, quirky family drama. Eleven-year-old Bo plans her getaway from a unique lifestyle of a self-sufficient family living off the map in the desert of New Mexico. Her father has been struck by a crippling bout of depression, and her stoic-yet-steeped-in-Native-American-lore mother is doing her best to keep the family on track with family friend the consistently reliable George. When William Gibbs, a young accountant from Brookline, arrives to do an audit, he is promptly stung by a hornet, lapses into a several day semi-conscious bout of allergic reaction, and
awakens with a profound feeling for matriarch Arlene. Bo is initially inspired by the arrival of William Gibbs, seeing in him her way out of this unconventional life to a more traditional existence. But when William awakens a changed man, Bo’s plans are stalled.
“OFF THE MAP is refreshing in its lack of external conflict. The struggles portrayed happen internally. Joan Allen’s Arlene is up for such a challenge, and OFF THE MAP is a terrific reminder of what a great actress she is, taking what could have been a stock character and adding depth and mystery. The rest of the adult cast is also strong, including Sam Elliott as lost patriarch Charley, and Amy Brenneman in a small role as the adult Bo. Valentina de Angelis is a little shaky in her debut role as Bo, a character written a little too precociously for her own good, although with parents like hers, it’s not that far a stretch.
“Where Scott and screenwriter Joan Ackermann (adapted from her own play) succeed the most is in the desolate, beautiful and mystical sense of place they express in the form of New Mexico. Scott captures the expanses well, and the transformative theme is well played. While not a perfect film, and certainly one that drew mixed reactions from our group of Chlotrudis members, OFF THE MAP is worth viewing. 3 ½ cats”