Review of Leaves of Grass (2009) by Brandon S — 01 Apr 2010

Edward Norton takes on dual roles in the dark crime comedy(?) Leaves of Grass. Norton plays Bill Kincaid, a classical thought professor at a northeastern university who gets roped into revisiting a past life he worked tirelessly to leave behind in Oklahoma when he hears about the murder of his identical twin brother and pot dealer, Brady. Upon his arrival, Bill finds out that the news he received was a trick by Brady himself in an effort to coerce Bill into returning home to be his alibi for just in case Brady's meeting with a Jewish drug lord goes south, which it does.

Some of the best movies don't restrict themselves to a specific genre, as is the case with Leaves of Grass, which starts off light-hearted, then takes a sharp and violent turn as Bill [played by Norton] finds himself spiraling deeper into his twin brother's backwoods lifestyle of drugs and crime. The film does maintain its comical side, though, as earlier occurrences of happenstance come back to play a key role in the many twists and turns of the movie. A key example is a Jewish orthodontist, played by Josh Pais, who meets Bill on the flight to Oklahoma, then crosses paths with Brady just before his deadly meeting with drug lord, Pug Rothbaum (played by Richard Dreyfuss). His new practice in financial trouble - and hoping to score a major payoff - the orthodontist takes it upon himself to confront Brady and Bill concerning their involvement in illegal activity, causing yet a whole new set of problems for Bill who's just trying to get back home to his normal life.

From the onset, there really is no telling where this story will go or end up. It's a fun, scary, unpredictable, and tragic ride, which is the reason we pay money for a ticket. The existential, philosophical undertone to which Bill Kincaid desperately adheres when challenged by a way of life he dismissed when he left his hometown provokes thought in causing the viewer to question what really matters in life in regards to one's own happiness.

Ed Norton, a past Oscar nominee for good reason, does a brilliant job in managing two distinctive, vastly contrasting personalities in Bill and Brady. At times it's easy to forget, even when both brothers are on screen simultaneously, that they're being played by the same person. Susan Sarandon plays a small but effective role as Daisy, Brady and Bill's mother who, being a product of the flower child era, is the main cause of Bill's estrangement from the family due to her desire to be party pal to her sons over responsible parent. Keri Russell plays Janet, a small-town poet to whom Bill takes an instant liking and defies his philosophy-based state of mind. Russell is continually cementing her place as a solid go-to in major talent-powered feature films, and rounds out a top-notch cast.

A surprising gem to be found in the lull between the end of Oscar season and the summer blockbuster period, Leaves of Grass is a definite must-see.