Regardless of what you think of the film, you have to give Gary Oldman credit for not only wanting to play a dwarf, but actually getting to do it. In this age of warped political correctness, even the greatest actors working today are limited to roles within their own race, age, gender, and overall physical appearance. Gone are the days when actors like Paul Muni and Marlon Brando applied some make-up and transformed themselves into strong, sympathetic characters from the East. And lest we forget the great Jose Ferrer who played diminutive French artist Toulouse-Lautrec in John Huston's "Moulin Rouge". A film that I am sure provided some pointers on how to make a 5' 11" actor look half that size.
In "Tiptoes", Oldman plays Rolfe, twin brother to Steven played by Matthew McConaughey. Not only do these twins look nothing alike, but Rolfe also happens to be a dwarf while Steven appears to be perfectly normal young man - on the outside at least. As twins go, Rolfe and Steven are not very close. In early scenes of them together, you can't help but sense an underlying current of envy and guilt in their relationship. A feeling that only dumb luck made one more normal than the other. And when Steven's girlfriend Carol, played by the always lovely Kate Beckinsale, announces her unplanned pregnancy, the issue is once again raised as there is a chance their child may be born a dwarf.
For what it's worth, "Tiptoes" has its heart in the right place. There are moments in the film where it tries to break new ground and show us not only what it would be like to be a dwarf, but also what it would be like to simply be in their social circle. The film also gives us a look at three very different romantic relationships - Steven & Carol [of normal size], Rolfe & Sally [dwarfs], and Maurice & Lucy [dwarf & of normal size]. And while each one appears physically unique, we soon find out that the problems that rip them apart are not.
But it doesn't take long for all these seemingly sincere moments to take on the semblance of an ABC Afterschool Special entitled "Dwarfs are People Too." Take the scene in which Carol meets Rolfe for the first time. We can't exactly be sure what her reaction is going to be, and Beckinsale plays it beautifully. When Rolfe asks her who she is, she answers as her hand unconsciously moves over her stomach. A motion used to both identify her relationship with Steven and the fear for what her baby may become. All in all, an excellent scene. But moments later, the whole sequence ends on a incredibly manipulative note of false sympathy and sentimentality with Carol caring for an exhausted Rolfe. Even the score milks the sequence for everything its got.
As for the performances, only actors Gary Oldman and Peter Dinklage really provide anything worthwhile here. Despite some poor direction, Oldman brings in a quiet and subtle performance, while Dinklage - complete with a phony French accent - gives us a character completely different than the one he played in "The Station Agent". I will say, however, that Oldman's performance is undercut by some truly awful special effects created to maintain the illusion of dwarfism. You can't help but laugh when you see him obviously sitting inside a couch with fake legs propped up near his waist.
Overall, the film is to be commended for trying something new, even if it failed miserably. And it is aptly named as it does tend to "tiptoe" around every important point it is trying to make.
Rating [on a 5 star system] : 2 1/2 stars
