Review of Off the Map (2003) by Erik B — 17 Mar 2005

I loved this. The main plotline is that a family of three who don't have jobs and live off the land out in the boondocks of New Mexico are greeted by an IRS audit. The story does contain one big implausiblity: people making only $5000 a year would be tax-exempt, and I don't think that the IRS would be coming after them. Also, the IRS agent says he has a law degree, and yet his previous job was as a cook? Some of the narration by Amy Brenneman is also a little overly prosaic, understandable that it's adapted from a play. Other than that, the character depth is spectacular.

While Arlene has the narrowest character arc, Joan Allen plays the character with fervor and enthusiasm. A real embodiment of the character. Hopefully she receives some kind of recognition for her work. Sam Elliott is also great as the father going through depression. I also like how depression's capricious nature is portrayed here. How he copes and gets out of it is entirely realistic. J.K. Simmons is similarly outstanding as a family friend, George, a loner who gradually finds love. It sounds trite, but it's done subtly and mostly off-screen; we only notice his on-screen changes in character. Valentina de Angelis as the young protganist is great in her debut role. While the young child wise beyong her years has been done to hell, it's played freshly, and the character arc eventually shows her to be selfish and whiny when George leaves, but comes to accept that he has a life of his own. The gradual transition to a maturity is done well. While Jim True-Frost's character, William the IRS agent, is the least plausible, we share in the elation and revalation in his character arc of finding joy in simplicity and creative birth.

I also have to give credit to Joan Ackermann for adapting her own play; the dialogue, while somewhat unrealistic at times, is strikingly touching. Campbell Scott also does a fine job of directing a very character-focused story, and high praise must be given to Juan Ruiz Anchía for the awe-inspiring photography of the New Mexico landscape.

[i]Off The Map[/i] is real, poetic, and incredibly joyful. Check it out if you can.