I guess I liked this movie more than most, based on the ratings. I think it may have been a bit too real, too tragic, too literal for most. Very well written, of course, being based on such a classic novel. Really great performances. Mcgregor, Connelly, Riegert, Fanning, and the always great Strathairn. Great direction, gorgeous production, editing, and sound. This was a very tight production. It was completely believable, in it's Shakespearean level of tragedy.
The story follows Seymour "Swede" Levov (Ewan McGregor), the pride of the Jewish-American community in Newark (which nicknamed him "Swede" because of his Nordic good looks). By the looks of it the Swede seemed to have it all! He was a star high school athlete (really, a hero and a legend in his hometown), he married the catholic Dawn (Jennifer Connelly), a beauty queen, he took over his father's thriving glove business), he had a house with a nice spread, he and his wife had a loving, beautiful daughter to care for. What could go wrong? Everything.
At the 45th high school reunion of Swede's younger brother, Jerry retells Swede's story to an old classmate, Nathan Zuckerman (David Strathairn), a journalist who was overseas during the 1960s. He tells him how Swede's life became difficult after high school - and went downhill from there. Swede had to struggle to get his very traditional father (Peter Riegert) to accept the Catholicism of his wife, Dawn, he struggled to keep his business viable in the face of declining customer demand (and being at the epicenter of the 1967 Newark race riots), and he struggled mightily with his daughter, Merry, who dealt with a bad stutter, which clearly affected her confidence and self-esteem (besides the "problem" of having such a beautiful mother, as pointed out by Merry's psychologist, Sheila (Molly Parker). But Merry's problems (and her parents' problems with Merry) had just begun. As she grew up, Merry became disillusioned with the world which she saw on TV as seemingly coming apart. She strongly sympathized with the Civil Rights Movement (especially its more radical elements) and the Vietnam anti-war movement (especially its more radical elements as well). She went from spewing hatred at President Johnson's image on the family's TV set to regularly taking the train into New York to commiserate with like-minded radicals. She rudely rebelled against all authority figures (including her own loving parents) and started talking openly about the need for a revolution in the U.S.
One day, a local post office exploded, killing one man, and Merry disappeared. Her anguished parents insisted that Merry couldn't have done such a thing unless she was brainwashed and forced by others. The first half of the film is exceptionally well done and captures the essence of why the second half feels like a total loss of everything Swede thought he had.
It is refreshing to see the film explore the relationship between father and daughter. The Rita Cohen (Valorie Curry) character, was a bit bizarre, as a shrink. Swede's determination and unconditional love for his daughter was true to life, and it was quite depressing to see what those admirable qualities did to his previously promising life. As a director McGregor captures the era, the times, the setting, and the difficulties of raising a child.
This is a very somber film. It could have been better. But, it made some good points. It made me very grateful that I decided not to have children. Most just assume peaches and cream. Not so this time around!
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