Milwaukee, Minnesota (2003) User Reviews

Rain man goes ice fishing in Minnesota

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 10 June 2005]

Allan Mindell, making his film debut, takes us to a part of the country that seem to be in a permanent winter state. The screen play by Richard Murphy places the story in Milwaukee.

We are introduced to Albert, an autistic young man and his over protective mother, Edna. Albert is a champion ice fisher who seems to have a knack for winning tournaments that pay a lot of money. As it's the case with autistic persons, they might appear to be helpless in some areas, but they can be brilliant in others.

Albert has a problem: there are a few people who would love to steal his money! We first meet Tuey and her brother, white trash people from the South, who see a good scam whenever they find one. Tuey passes herself as a reporter interested in interviewing Albert. She is pathetic interviewer, but the young man is too gullible to see it.

Edna is killed in a hit and run accident that leaves Albert alone to fend for himself. In addition to Tuey, another low life character appears in the picture, Jerry, who claims he is Albert's real father. There is also a kind man, Sean McNally, who owns a store. Albert likes to make copies of 20 dollar bills in Sean's Xerox machine.

Tuey, at the end is the only decent person of the whole lot as she realizes the kindness of Albert in trying to help her brother Stan. Jerry, on the other hand is the one that actually seems to be the successful one in getting rich. In an ironic twist at the end, we see how Albert, the mentally challenged young man, gets the last laugh!

The director gets good performances of this multi talented cast. Best of all is Alison Folland as Tuey, who redeems herself at the end. Tom Garity also is charming as Albert who seems to inhabit his own world. Randy Quaid is perfect as the oily Jerry. Debra Monk and Bruce Dern are seen briefly as Edan and Sean.

Mr. Mindell will probably do well in the future as he shows he has a good understanding in what make these characters unique.

Everything that is good about indie films

[nick-pett664 · 30 November 2004]

Although I have some difficulty with aspects of reviews of this film that I have read (where they posit that Albert has essentially turned the tables fully on all of his tormentors), I cannot disagree with what seems to be the consensus: that this is a film that has been put together with admirable care and dedication (witness the long gestation period from first buying of script to beginning shooting to ending shooting), with great results. Troy Garrity is great as the lead, and Bruce Dern was terrific as mr McNally, and with so little screen time at his disposal. Randy Quaid is good, but has the easiest job, I think. being slimy, with that tan, that jacket and that 'tache, was never going to be too hard. What is best about this film is that the cast is mostly unknown, (or in some cases forgotten about) at least in the UK, which allows you to concentrate on the narrative and the emotions of the piece. This is a natural bonus of being a small, indie film. But it also allows things like the closing shot of the fishermen walking across the snow, which lasts for such a long time. How would you get away with that in the mainstream ? The story is of a small-time con, set in a small town, generally a call for two or three big stars to act as trailer trash and show their comedic skills. Such movies always come off as fake and slightly condescending. None of the same is true here. This film feels honest and tender. Congratulations to all involved and to the NFT for bringing it to these shores.

Blech.

[bnsheeha0528 · 1/10 · 11 January 2007]

Rented this movie from blockbuster, hoping for something great. Being from Milwaukee and going to college in Minnesota, this seemed like a good idea. Wrong. Really cliché, with sub-par acting. Tried to make a lacking story artsy by adding a mentally challenged man and a whole lot of "color burn" filtering. The over-sugared, metallic tasting microwave caramel corn we made was better than this film. I'm no film expert, but as someone who feels she has a fairly intelligent head on her shoulders, I feel the following statement is legitimate: it was the worst movie I've seen since this morning's tape of Christmas, 1987. Negative 10 stars. I'd have voted that way, but sadly IMDb doesn't support the blatant soul crushing of filmmakers. Pity.

'Challenged' as a State of Mind and Heart

[gradyharp · 8/10 · 28 November 2005]

MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA has everything you'd hope to find in an Indie film - good offbeat story, strong cast mixing established actors with new talent that brings out the best in both, a director who lets the story unfold naturally, enough messages to cast away any doubts that the world is lacking in spirit and caring, and an impressive list of contributors that demonstrates that there are many people who appreciate and love fine film. Writer Richard Murphy and Director Allan Mindel have shaped a tale about a mentally challenged young man and his inner strengths that allow him to make his mark on the world through sheer courage: they have succeeded in creating a memorable, touching, warmly human film.

Albert Burroughs (Troy Garity) is a twenty-something sweet lad, mentally challenged but able to maintain a job as a copy clerk for old man McNally (Bruce Dern) while he is closely overprotected by his mother Edna (Debra Monk). Troy's one pastime is ice fishing and because he is sensitive to the language of the fishes he has become the champion ice fisher of Wisconsin, earning prizes that amount to considerable savings! Worried that the outside world (outside of Milwaukee!) might be abusive to her son, Edna has prevented his entering contests in such places as neighboring Minnesota, places where Albert could truly become a star.

Quite suddenly Edna is killed in by a hit and run driver and Albert is left to his own devices for survival. News of his inheritance and contest winnings seeps into the world and characters begin to appear to take advantage of 'the retard': the smarmy Jerry (Randy Quaid) tries to convince Albert he is his real father; Tuey (Allison Folland) and her cancerphobic younger brother Stan (Hank Harris) are cheap con artists who try to steal his money; a transvestite (Holly Woodlawn) and her bodyguard Gary (Josh Brolin) wiggle into the stew created by Tuey and Stan and further go after Albert's money; and McNally posts his own agenda for 'care' of Albert and his 'fortune'. How each of these attempts to take advantage of Albert play out forms the line of the story, with an ending that finds Albert leading his life as an ice fisherman who is a champion in more ways than one.

Though obviously shot on a low budget this film succeeds on the important levels of communication and goes beyond the ordinary with some stunning photography by Bernd Heinl and a wonderful musical score by Michael Convertino and Robert Muzingo. Troy Garity (son of Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden) holds his own in a role that could fall into parody and demonstrates that he is growing into a fine actor. And it helps to have the likes of Bruce Dern and Randy Quaid in the mix! This is the kind of film that is refreshing to see made. Would that Hollywood would invest in stories of this caliber! Recommended. Grady Harp

A great movie

[chris-2142 · 9/10 · 12 April 2005]

It's pretty hard to criticise a labour of love, and Milwaukee, Minnesota is no exception. The background to this film reveals the kind of indie aesthetic that infatuates people; there's no major money motive, a lot of hard work from a small cast, and on overall desire to create something stimulating. Indeed the attention to detail is a joy to watch; from meticulously planned shots (the director's commentary reveals stories of balancing cameras on piles of snow, filming reflections to look like insects and throwing talcum powder on actors) to cinematography changing as we enter the world of the protagonist about a quarter of the way in. As far as the story goes; it's a sensitive and honest portrayal of a sensitive and honest story. It's magical but believable, funny but dark and reminds you as any good indie should, that life is actually quite beautiful, tainted at the edges sure, dangerous sure, but ultimately there's things around you every day that are good enough without bombs, explosions and $100Million dollars in unmarked bills at stake.

Well shot and acted North American 'indie movie'

[tresdodge · 25 April 2005]

A mentally deficient man ,who has a knack for winning money at fish catching competitions, is left to fend for himself after his mother is run down and murdered. Fragile, innocent and alone he is targeted by crooks hell bent on taking some of his money.

A very well shot and acted film, I was surprised at how accomplished the main lead actor(Troy Garrity)was in portraying the character of Albert. The other actors played their parts well and the technical aspects were done well with the cinematography exceptionally good. However,at times the movie was very slow and caused me to lose my attention and become a bit dis-interested. Nevertheless a watchable effort that takes you away from the world outside for a while.

Albert is a mentally challenged young man: or is he?

[Fred-S · 8/10 · 5 June 2005]

Albert is a mentally challenged young man: or is he? Whatever the case, he definitely has a gift for catching fish through the ice. The movie is set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (not a small town); which is definitely not the ice fishing capital of the U. S. Minnesota has that title all locked up; but Albert's mom is so possessive that she will not let him go to Minnesota (or anyplace else where he might be tempted to try a few things on his own) to enter the big-buck contests, so he fishes in Wisconsin. (A reviewer praises the film makers for avoiding "You betcha" Minnesota stereotypes. Perhaps that is because there is only one scene, the last, in Minnesota. It shows a large ice-covered lake and a few fishermen, none of whom gets a chance to say, "Okey, dokey".) Anyway, it is his awareness that he is not where the big tourneys are that led me to question how mentally challenged he really is. If he were truly as challenged as some would have us believe, he would probably settle for the $23,000 prizes he wins in the Milwaukee area and never question his mother's wisdom. However, he clearly wishes to go to the bigger fishing tournaments in spite of his mother's opposition. It appears that what seems to be lack of mental competence may actually be more a sign of his great loyalty to his mom whom he loves dearly in spite of her suffocating control.

After mom's death, in a hit-run auto collision, Albert is forced to take more control of his life as the scam artists, Quaid (as Jerry), Folland (as Tuey), and perhaps Dern's character, Sean, make their moves to gain control of the $300,000 or so he has accumulated.

I thought the first half of the movie was far too slow. Mainly, it introduced us to the characters. It did not take that long to get the take on Mom, Stan, Tuey, and Sean. Jerry (Randy Quaid) makes his appearance a little later.

The second half is much better as reality grabs Albert by the throat and forces him to take charge. How he does that gives the clues to his real capabilities.

I think people who compare "Milwaukee, Minnesota" with "Fargo" are just looking at the snow. The similarities between the two movies (other than the snow) are pretty minor.

Fargo it is not. A nice movie with some very complex characters (but not story) it is. Garity is excellent. Quaid and Dern, whom I suspect received far less pay than usual, gave them their money's worth.

It made for a pleasant afternoon in the movies on a cold spring day in Minnesota.

Wonderful, Magic, Intense, Alive

[arnaud-meunier · 9/10 · 13 October 2003]

Where to start ?

Maybe where the story of this movie ends, on a beautiful shot on the winter, above a frozen lake where Albert is going to fish.

All the people following him like as if he were a guide, where as he's following the sky to know where the fishes are...

The script was quite simple & could have been treated with all the lines of this kind of movie (the good, the bad) but Allan Mindel succeeded in shooting a movie that comes frm his heart & frm Troy Garity's heart. The characters all hve their strong personalities but they all love Albert like we all do now.

Arnaud frm the Jury Première that awarded Milwaukee, Minnesota as the best movie of the American Film Festival of Deauville 2003.

A drama worthy of everyone's attention

[soulatstake · 15 July 2003]

I was fortunate enough to view this film at the Slamdance (not Sundance) festival in Park City, UT. In spite of hard wood chairs and a stuffy packed room environment, one could not think of anything else but the events in the movie. Randy Quaid is wonderful as a slimy con artist and Troy is brilliant as always in his idiom. The direction and feel is cruelly realistic to the bite. If you see this film, don't forget your stocking caps, because its COLD out there!

Intelligent script and good story!

[fiona-vanhouten · 10/10 · 17 January 2012]

Personally, I find this a great movie because it's touching and the combination of the characters and how they treat each other is well done. There is also good humor in it so that gave me some nice moments too. We have Albert Burroughs, an autistic man, who won lots of prizes for fishing because of a talent and he lives with his mother. His father is around him while not knowing that this man is his father. The movie is set in winter time.

Unfortunately, there are people who gets after the money of Albert. These people are very different from each other and they lie to Albert to get what they want. How one of them develop gave me a special feeling because it shows that not all people that does bad things are really bad. Some will change their ways of thinking and will feel affection.

I recommend this movie for people who like to see movies about autistic persons, who like to see the lovely actress Alison Folland in one of her big roles or who just wanna see a movie with an intelligent script and a good story!