Color, PG-13 (mature themes, nudity), 105 min., DVD only $24.95
Street: Aug. 9, Prebook: July 7
DVD: director's commentary
First Run: L, March 2004, $1.7 mil.
Cast: Joan Allen (The Upside of Anger), Sam Elliott (Hulk), J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man), Jim True-Frost (The Hudsucker Proxy), Valentina de Angelis (Criminality), Amy Brennaman (The Suburbans)
Director: Campbell Scott
SONY
In a secluded area of New Mexico, Charley (Elliott) suffers from a serious case of depression, as wife Arlene (Allen), daughter Bo (de Angelis) and friend George (Simmons) struggle to make ends meet and figure out how they can help him. Earthy and mysterious with lots of quiet moments and long pauses between lines of dialog, this quirky drama plays like a short story come to life--although director Scott (co-helmer of Big Night) actually adapted a play. The characters get to show off their acting chops in subtle ways. Elliott, a master at underplaying, gets a chance to go to work here as a character removed from everyday concerns because of his clinical depression. Equally fine are de Angelis, as his feisty young daughter, and Allen, as his long suffereing wife. Tell renters to go elsewhere if they seek anything remotely action-oriented or fall-down funny. This methodically paced little movie relies on quiet moments and rewards patience.