| Issue #39, December 22, 2006 |
They Made The Movie Here Film Festival 2006
review: something’s gotta give
This season’s fine finale to Dan’s Papers They Made The Movies Here Film Festival at Westhampton’s Performing Arts Center on Main Street in Westhampton will start early at 1 p.m. to make room for a solid double header – Something’s Gotta Give and Network. To start with, be prepared for an explosive blast of entertainment spiked with comedy, warmth and local East End charm. Brace yourself for the highly-acclaimed Something’s Gotta Give. Come see who’ll give in this battle of the sexes. If you know, don’t tell. This is quality stuff and it’s FREE.
Giving the biggest bang for the buck is Diane Keaton’s terrific performance as a dating-shy divorcée, unexpectedly the object of the affections of an aging playboy played by Jack Nicholson (as only he can play). Their chemistry was bound to be explosive, but it was Keaton’s TNT, compound-fracturing, delightful performance that moved mountains, rewarding her with an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe and a National Board of Review Award.
If having Ms. Keaton and Jack in top form is something, how about the added pleasure of watching the two of ‘em cavorting all over the fabulous Hamptons? Now that’s something. That’s about more glamour than a guy can take. I should know, it was shot not far from my place (I assure you, there’s no rear projection on a Hollywood sound stage. The sound stage sets used are also on Hamptons property, Frazier Dougherty’s Pinewood West Studios.) Our beaches and rural lanes have never looked nicer, nor has Miss Diane, thanks to cinematographer Michael Balhaus. Something’s script was written by its producer and director, Nancy Meyers, who stuffs the story with comfortable, squishy kapok, which we all know and have loved before. However, Something gives a lot more bounce to the plump coziness (I am not referring to Nicholson’s bare behind.)
Talents like Frances MacDormand, as Keaton’s sharp-tongued sister and Amanda Peet as Marin, her daughter, give the women the upper hand in kneading a plot that starts with Jack coming out to the Hamptons to spend a weekend romancing the much younger Marin in her mother’s beach house. Further complications arise when Jack’s heart attacks him. The attending doctor, played by Keanu Reeves, assures Amanda that her “dad’s going to be okay.” Not funny to Jack, who suddenly feels his heart going out to an “older woman” of all things. But being weak, you might say weak of heart, he stalls. In jumps Keanu, who doesn’t see Diane as an “older woman.” I let you take it from there. What do you give a woman who has everything? More!
More is what you get from Dan’s Papers’ Film Festivals. Bingo! Your host, Sarah Halsey, will make the refreshments more refreshing.
Guy-Jean de Fraumeni is the producer/writer/ director of award-wining European and American feature films. He has been a judge at major Film and TV award competitions, including the Oscars, the Emmy’s and various film festivals.
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