Review of Starting Out in the Evening (2007) by Sans S — 10 Dec 2007

The last I saw Lili Taylor and Lauren Ambrose together, was in an episode of the HBO series, "6 Feet Under." I never expected to see these strong female actresses together again, so I was grateful and unduly surprised to experience them in tandem on the screen.

Frank Langella, known for his role as Dracula in the late 1970's, has had a full life of starring in cinema. Now in his late 60's, he plays an elderly New York City novelist whose first two works were acclaimed for their passion while his last 2 are fading into oblivion.

When Heather Wolf, a graduate student from Brown University meets him in a coffee shop, she proposes a series of interviews for her thesis on this former great writer. Her face is lit, she is suppressing the giddiness of pure joy and idolic homage. But professor Schiller refuses, stating that he cannot be taken away from his work, that he must finish his novel, that he can't be distracted. In fact, he has been working on his book for 10 years, waiting for his characters to take him where they are supposed to go, showing him the way. It's not working.

Heather is not only smitten with the great author, but her brightness and sparkling youth, further accentuating the probable 50 year age difference, have given her a palpable bravery. She finds a way to wheedle her way into his life and hang on. Though she is supposed to see the professor for interviews weekly, she manages to appear at the door and to break all boundaries.

Meanwhile, daughter Ariel has the opportunity to marry Victor, the lawyer, but walks; there is no emotional connection, and although she wants to beat the biological clock and have a child, she would prefer to have his child than to marry him. But then, who returns to her life but her love, Casey, for whom she does have love and passion, but he didn't want children. My, life is complicated; I can hear the Rolling Stones song playing in the background of my mind, "You Can't Always Get What You Want." The professor father is dismayed by Casey and does not want his daughter to be with him. His blackness looks like the obvious reason, but it in fact has nothing to do with it. He is a nice guy, he just doesn't want to give his daughter what she wants. A child.

Heather has been deeply in love with Schiller's work, and by extension, with Schiller; it almost looks like there is going to be a huge romance. The juxtaposition between Schiller and the 2 women further accentuate the elderly man's waning health and potency; actually a reflection of his last two works.

Heather's digging and clawing into Schiller's life has enabled her to find facts with which to challenge him, to give him back his potency. In a sense, Langella is a Dracula figure again, feeding off the blood of youth and passion. Heather has led him to a place in himself where he can come to terms with his own life and renew his characters. It is the evening of his life, he has not time to waste.

Casey is redeemed by his ability to come forward and show his strength in time of crisis. Ariel is shown her own strength and bravery in the face of her father's illness and begins to face her own needs. Heather completes her thesis and has finished her catalystic role of renewing the great American author's verve.

We don't know what will happen; we have witnessed a few poignant moments in several people's lives, but we end at the beginning: professor Schiller is typing.

This is a beautifully done piece with excellent ensemble acting is realistically staged in New York City.