Review of Evening (2007) by Jorden J — 03 Aug 2012
Ann (Vanessa Redgrave) is dying with her daughters (Toni Colette & Natasha Richardson) at her side. She thinks back to her younger self (Claire Danes) and particularly the choices she made on the weekend when her best friend Lila (Mamie Gummer & her mother, Meryl Streep) was married.
The eventual message is that life is messy, but any choice you make is OK as long as you move forward. Whether the film really supports that message is questionable. I think it is more life is messy and then you die.
The movie, particularly the modern (Death) scenes, is a little slowly paced. The flashbacks have more energy.
The powerhouse female cast is uneven. Danes has energy and sings well, but her character is insenstive to the only member of the flashback cast that shows any imagination (Buddy). Everyone else is trapped by conventions. Richardson, Gummer, & Streep play the characters who see the traps of life, but also the occassional joys. Collette disappoints and Atkins' roll is perhaps the most unplayable.
Dancy give a tour de force portrayal as the imaginative, but obsessed, and ultimately destroyed Buddy. Wilson gives his usual enegmatic portrayal as the character everyone loves, but who can't give enough back.
An uneven movie with thrilling moments: Danes & Dancy dancing; Glenn Close's brittle character disintegrating.
This review of Evening (2007) was written by Jorden J on 03 Aug 2012.
Evening has generally received mixed reviews.
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