Escanaba is really a wonderful, existential exploration into Yooper mysticism, if such a thing truly exists. It takes place in the hunting cabin handed down through generations, to which such local importance is placed on "bagging the buck" that our hero (Jeff Daniels) is effectively made a local leper for never shooting one. He is presented with a gift of sorts to remedy this malady. Yes, it has glorious fart jokes, indecipherable up north speak, euchre (for those who know, it's a great euchre scene), and basic base dumb guy humor. The undercurrent of this film runs far deeper, and shouldn't be dismissed as it is by the detractors here on IMDb. Strains of family ties, disappointment, and self loathing dominate, but also love binds this film into a strange but cohesive journey toward one mans self discovery through attempted slaughter of a buck. This is far deeper than the casual viewer might give it credit. It takes fantastic, surreal turns. In other stories, similar characters to Jeff Daniel's Reuben traverse the sojourn into the metaphysical state fueled by various psychedelic drugs, cacti, or what have you. In this case, it seems to be fueled by porcupine pee and other unsavory fluids, drunk by all and sundry in the hunting cabin. All participate in what might be called an ongoing porcupine fueled group hallucination, but is it? In the end, as we might expect (and hope), Daniels finds his redemption. I defy anyone not to be happy in this conclusion. I loved this play adapted to film, and I fling poo at those who call it "bad", they just don't get it. Escanaba In Da Moonlight is wonderful.
Review of Escanaba in da Moonlight
Escanaba in da Moonlight
(2001)
A teaching of the Yaqui Way, Yooper style. Excellent.
5 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers