Upon its beginning, one realizes almost instantly that this film was adapted from a play, if only from listening to the characters' lines. The dialogue is absolute perfection, the Nirvana of the writer, in its synthesis of ultra-realistic speech patterns and riveting material. Even the most mundane discussion is difficult to turn off. This is, of course, the hallmark of theater, where there is no orchestral score or fantastic cinematography to distract the audience - dialogue must stand on its own. It's a practice all too absent from most film.
The "poetic realism" style continues through into visuals, as every shot is calculatingly composed for maximum emotional effect without straying from the documentary setup. In one particularly memorable moment, an innocuous American flag in a bar becomes a wrenchingly powerful symbol. Considering that the original play was done with no set beyond a table and chairs, it's a radical departure - and one that goes surprisingly well.
Though the film begins to drag through its second half, and hits a low point with an apparently poignant but in fact quite artificial and dry monologue from Shepard's father, the impact of its unconventional style is enough to propel it through to a more or less satisfying conclusion. Recommended for anyone who can tolerate serious film.
The "poetic realism" style continues through into visuals, as every shot is calculatingly composed for maximum emotional effect without straying from the documentary setup. In one particularly memorable moment, an innocuous American flag in a bar becomes a wrenchingly powerful symbol. Considering that the original play was done with no set beyond a table and chairs, it's a radical departure - and one that goes surprisingly well.
Though the film begins to drag through its second half, and hits a low point with an apparently poignant but in fact quite artificial and dry monologue from Shepard's father, the impact of its unconventional style is enough to propel it through to a more or less satisfying conclusion. Recommended for anyone who can tolerate serious film.