Review of Expired (2007) by Zarinah H — 20 Sep 2008

"Expired" is a movie about two tortured souls - a rather naive and emotionally stunted meter maid, Clare [Samantha Morton] floats through life, happily accommodating those around her, be it her stroke-afflicted mom [Teri Garr], disgruntled receivers of parking tickets, co-workers etc. Most times, she seems like she landed from another planet. Then there is the terribly angry, masochistic, chauvinistic male opposite, "Mr Angry" Jay [Jason Patric] who is a fellow Parking Enforcement Officer. Despite being opposites in temperament, they somehow form a bond of sorts and Jay's abrasiveness and violent temper, not to mention belittling doesn't deter Clare from falling in love with him. As she asks her mom "Is something better than nothing when you don't have everything?".

What truly makes this a memorable movie that is worth watching in terms of observing the unfolding of a strange and tortured relationship is the two leads. Samantha Morton has a sort of out-of-this-world quality that perfectly matches the character she portrays, Clare. Hers is a finely nuanced performance tinged with sensitivity and poignancy and one that I will not soon forget. As for Jason Patric, this is one of his best performances to date - his Jay comes across as a truly horrible character - one which elicits no sympathy and much hostility - a man so consumed by his own needs and feeling that the whole world is against him, he fails to appreciate the gift of unconditional love when it stares him in the face.

Ultimately, "Expired" is a study of two people who are both desperate to be loved - with different approaches to attaining it, and with surprising, even tragic results. Final verdict: a well-made indie romance that will leave you emotionally wrung.