THE POST-DON JUAN
Movie Review
Broken Flowers - 9/10
by Peter Ludwig
Broken Flowers is a romantically cold film based on the past relationships of its protagonist, Don Johnston (Bill Murray). In it, Jim Jarmusch writes, directs, and produces characters unique to this small budget movie, starring an actor who isn’t.
Jarmusch, whose detractors have accused him of using Bill Murray’s talent as an unmoving portrait from such films as Lost in Translation and Rushmore, does something quite the opposite in Broken Flowers. While Murray’s popularity has spiked in recent years due to his highly acclaimed roles in smaller budget films, perhaps his most exciting quality has been his ability to become a symbol of self-examination. In this film, where he stars in nearly every shot, Murray keeps quiet, allowing Jarmusch to portray just how anxious and detached his subject has become. In short, Murray’s daily collection of track jackets becomes the most anticipated gag in the film, allowing him to concentrate on the character’s real emotions.
Broken Flowers is the story of a man’s search to find four girlfriends, now twenty years removed, one of which is believed to have sent him a letter bearing the news of his now 19-year-old son. Upon bringing the pink letter and envelope next door to his neighbor, Winston (Jeffrey Wright), we meet Don’s foil, opening with the sentiment, “Hey, Congratulations, you’re a father!” Winston quickly draws up a strategy for his friend’s road trip to locate his son, advising him to look out for simple clues that may lead him to his prospective child’s mother, and convinces him to accept the ride to the airport. The trip meanders gracefully around the similarities and violent differences in Don’s flames, but gives the feeling in its end that perhaps a definite answer to many of our questions may be pleasantly unfulfilled.
Characters like Winston have become a staple in Jim Jarmusch’s work. In the director’s Down by Law, Roberto Benigni plays an Italian man escaping alongside Tom Waits from an American prison, while Stranger than Paradise features Ester Balint as John Lurie’s Hungarian cousin. Jarmusch uses Winston to avoid the “American cool” which can so easily dominate a movie and steal its ability to speak in a literal, unbarred way. This works to his advantage, as he is able to use Winston as the bearer of music to the film and as a character who brings joy into Don’s life, and furthermore into the eyes of the audience.
Holly Golightly sings in the opening and closing of the film with the songs “There is an End” and “Tell Me Now So I Know” creating heavy bookends for the film to rest on. The rest of the soundtrack, introduced through a mix CD made (as it proclaims on masking tape) “For Don From Winston,” is played while Don is driving in the car, and somehow the recurring jazz themes by Mulatu Astatke for saxophone flow so naturally through the rain and the wind of the drive, the mystery seems to be delivered through them.
Oddly enough, although his voice sounds different and his life appears messier, the true stranger in Broken Flowers is Don Johnston. He is physically older than he has ever been, yet has decided now to go back and decipher what happened with his old flings. He has but one friend and spends most of his time, from what we are shown, lying on his couch watching the sun go in the wrong direction, setting before he wakes. He takes this trip not to find his son, not even to find his son’s mother, but to travel back to compare himself to everyone he used to know.
Broken Flowers may not be the most easily quotable film of the year, but it has made its characters out to be more than a pretty face or a funny joke. It has taught them to be unafraid of what is around the corner, even if it’s not the truth.
DECONSTRUCTING DEBORAH
Book Review
Deborah the Dozy Duckling
(A Squeaky Storybook) - 2/10
by Alex Nye
Although this review contains more words than the colorful novella, Deborah the Dozy Duckling by Grandreams, Inc. presents a commentary on gender and class. The book, intended for toddlers, takes place in a rural setting with the tenant farmer, an evil and negligent patriarch, nowhere in sight.
For all its conflicts and facets, the story is essentially about a friendly game of hide and seek that goes very wrong. The plot is easily discernible since the reader is never confused by the introduction of all the figures. However strong the first few pages are as a whole, the portentous set-up is all too predictable in its creation.
The protagonist, Deborah, gets the plot rolling to a quick start when it is determined that it is her turn to go hide. From there, the story never looks back. All hell breaks loose when the other ducks are unable to locate their friend. There is a considerable commotion, but it is difficult for the reader to connect.
That is a result of the book’s simplistic and expected turn of events. Deborah waddles around the farm in search of a hiding spot and comes across the best spot ever—a bush. The title, whose alliteration is the only creative thing about the book, practically gives away the twist. Readers certainly must let out a collective groan when—surprise—the dozy duckling falls asleep.
Its predictable plot, unbelievable storyline, lack of psychological elements, and a lame ending all leave the reader wanting—wanting the $1.97 back that they paid for this piece of garbage. And let us not forget that the squeaky toy glued to the center of the cover hardly enhanced the tale and made it difficult to turn the pages.
To give credit where credit is due, the author does succeed in his/her personification of the ducks. While these ducklings are able to verbalize their feelings and have empathy for each other, their callous disregard for their own welfare is surprising. The ducks ought to realize that they are making themselves vulnerable to a number of predators. Hardly a lesson we should be teaching impressionable young minds.
As for this reviewer, he is going to start writing one of two follow up texts. Either Deborah the Dozy Duckling Does Dallas the Dirtball Donkey or Deborah the Dozy Duckling is Caught Yet Again While Dozing and Becomes a McNugget.
Read this if you enjoyed: Prudence the Pretty Piglet or Laurence the Lost Lamb.
