Blurred Realms

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"In the last couple of years the industrious Joe Swanberg has managed to turn himself into an identifiable independent name despite having evinced little initial filmmaking talent," N.Y. Times critic Manohla Dargis has written. "Things look better, however, in his latest effort, Alexander the Last, a 72-minute (including credits) series of loosely connected scenes.

"For starters, he finally has a real actress to look at and undress, the charming, vibrantly alive Jess Weixler, who plays Alex, a rather less appealing actress struggling with the divide between life and art. As important, Alexander comes with an imprimatur of legitimacy because the filmmaker Noah Baumbach (Margot at the Wedding) has signed on as a producer. It's hard to imagine Mr. Baumbach putting his name to anything without some creative input.

"The story in Alexander emerges elliptically after Alex's musician husband, Elliot (Justin Rice), heads out for a spell. She soon lands a part in a theater production (the movie was shot in Brooklyn), playing the romantic foil to a vague young man, Jamie (the equally hazy Barlow Jacobs), for whom she develops...well, a vague interest.

"The two advance and parry on and increasingly off the stage, even as Alex's sister, Hellen (Amy Seimetz), moves in on Jamie. Inhibitions and clothes are shed amid awkward silences, lurching conversations and tentative gestures as the focus shifts between life and the theater, and the two realms become more and more blurred, at least for Alex.

"The only thing truly in focus here is Ms. Weixler's performance."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on March 14, 2009 at 12:22 PM

comment #1

George Prager says ...

I'll see it. Even with the haircut.

I just looked up Edward Burns' imdb thing. He's made three movies since 2004: PURPLE VIOLETS, THE GROOMSMEN and LOOKING FOR KITTY. I don't recall reading a review of any of them. Have they been released? He's like the Rudy of filmmakers.

Posted by George Prager at March 14, 2009 12:48 PM

comment #2

BurmaShave says ...

Prager I believe PURPLE VIOLETS was released on iTunes, and THE GROOMSMEN premiered on Starz. I have no idea what the fuck LOOKING FOR KITTY is.

Posted by BurmaShave at March 14, 2009 1:03 PM

comment #3

George Prager says ...

I think you can see LOOKING FOR KITTY for free on those little black TVs at Greyhound bus stations.

Posted by George Prager at March 14, 2009 1:16 PM

comment #4

mutinyco says ...

I saw Kitty at a press screening a couple of years ago. It was shot on DV and starred Burns and David Krumholtz. It was kind of trying to be a '70s-type character study. DK is trying to find his wife and Burns is the PI looking for her. Struck me as a failed experiment that would have received no distribution whatsoever if known names weren't attached to it.

Posted by mutinyco at March 14, 2009 1:19 PM

comment #5

George Prager says ...

Burns needs to get in on this mumblecore action, although it would be like Joel Silver producing a Dogme 95 movie.

Posted by George Prager at March 14, 2009 1:30 PM

comment #6

BurmaShave says ...

Oh poor David Krumholtz. I mean I guess he's got the TV gig, but how much does it suck to be a dead ringer for the young Bob Dylan and have the bio-pic be some meta experiment.

Posted by BurmaShave at March 14, 2009 1:57 PM

comment #7

TM says ...

The triad of Burns films all had their premieres at Tribeca and unfortunately I sat through them. There is a reason you have not heard of them. After watching them, I came to the conclusion that Burns was a hack. He's no great shakes as an actor either.

Posted by TM at March 14, 2009 2:11 PM

comment #8

MickTravisMcGee says ...

Hack or no, he's been in a Spielberg movie. And he gets to wake up next Christie Turlington every morning. I'm reminded of one of Turturro's better lines from "Rounders" ....

Posted by MickTravisMcGee at March 14, 2009 4:04 PM

comment #9