Adrien Brody's next movie,after his Oscar-winning turn in "The Pianist" is this film which is beautifully odd and full of quirk and sweetness. Brody is Steven, a lonely,shy working mensch who lives at home and senses his life slipping away from him. One night,he discovers the art of ventriloquy is the venting of his trapped spirit. Spurred along by his friend,a Gothic,wild-child girl rocker named Fanny(Milla Jovovich,kinetic here),Steven pursues his dream,much to the utter amazement of his painfully neurotic family(Jessica Walter,Ron Leibmann and Ileana Douglas). Meanwhile,he harbors a crush on an employment counselor(Vera Farmigia),a sweet woman with a difficult past.
Meanwhile,the dummy Steven has worked with has nearly developed a personality of its own,goading Steven to become bolder and braver mensch.
Brody's acuity at ventriloquy further enhances this film,which has nothing particularly fancy or breathtaking to it. The love story at play here is...well,it's different. It's neither sentimental nor cynical,sweet but not syrupy. Kind of rare in the world of light romantic comedy.
The show is spare but that,I feel,enhances this pic. To me,this is one of the more unique films I've sen in quite a while. Kudos to director/writer Greg Pritkin for his deft touch. The cast is well placed and make this film both awkward and warm. I recommend this film for anyone who likes either/or both their comedies or romances odd and true.
Meanwhile,the dummy Steven has worked with has nearly developed a personality of its own,goading Steven to become bolder and braver mensch.
Brody's acuity at ventriloquy further enhances this film,which has nothing particularly fancy or breathtaking to it. The love story at play here is...well,it's different. It's neither sentimental nor cynical,sweet but not syrupy. Kind of rare in the world of light romantic comedy.
The show is spare but that,I feel,enhances this pic. To me,this is one of the more unique films I've sen in quite a while. Kudos to director/writer Greg Pritkin for his deft touch. The cast is well placed and make this film both awkward and warm. I recommend this film for anyone who likes either/or both their comedies or romances odd and true.