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A Home at the End of the World tells the story of Bobby, a sensitive youth whose entire family is dead before he graduates high school. Bobby moves in with best friend Jonathan's family. After graduation, Jonathan moves to New York for college and Bobby stays in Cleveland with Jonathan's folks. Bobby is eventually told that he can't live with Jonathan's parents forever, so he moves to New York--with Jonathan. A complicated love triangle ensues between Jonathan, Bobby, and Clare (Jonathan's roommate).
I really wanted to like this movie--and that's not to say that it doesn't have its bright moments, but the overall effect is amateurish and leaves you with nothing. This is Michael Mayer's directorial debut, and while he and the actors obviously have a handle on the characters, there are many problems in conveying the story.
First of all, setting has so much to do with a story--especially a story that has lines like "You can live in the suburbs, the East Village, the country--it just doesn't make any difference to you, does it?" But we get no sense of setting: nearly all of the shots in the film are medium close-ups of the characters' faces. It's like watching a made-for-TV movie. I want to feel like these people actually exist somewhere, not just in sets and apartments.
Secondly, the screenplay by Academy Award nominee Michael Cunningham conveys through dialogue what should be conveyed through action. Clare tells Jonathan, "I always loved you," and it is a total surprise to the audience (well, at least to me). Clare appears in the beginning of the second act and doesn't even really have a presence until the third--except for crazy hair colors.
Another problem with the film is, and this is pretty nitpicky, the costuming. Don't get me wrong, the costumes are beautiful, but this is one of those films where everyone in a specific period dress that period. In the beginning, there is a party and the year is 1967. All the women are in op-art print go-go dresses. It kind of takes you out of the film.
Here's what I liked, though: Sissy Spacek. Sissy Spacek. Sissy Spacek. That woman is so brilliant. I can't even begin to describe it. She is great in everything she has ever been in, even Blast from the Past. She is great in her few moments on screen here. Colin Farrell should also be commended. He plays this completely sensitive guy that just wants everyone to be happy very convincingly. When asked if there is anything he can't do, he responds, "Be alone." And it's completely believable. Robin Wright Penn is ok, but I feel like her role wasn't developed enough. Dallas Roberts is fairly innocuous in his portrayal of Jonathan.
Overall, I didn't feel like it was a complete waste of time, but I bet the book was a lot better. (jeremy.03.05)
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