Since I have begun to blog again I thought I would include the occasional film review. My criteria for what makes for a good film is this: Does it work for its genre, regardless of whether that genre is a favorite of mine? Does it clear up unanswered questions at the end? Do the production values (cinematography, music, casting, etc.) enhance the movie? Does it tell a good story? In other words, how much money a film pulls in, while it is sometimes the case, is not necessarily a barometer of how good that movie is. So here goes--
In the past few years there have
been an abundance of films too obviously designed to attract the aging baby
boomer audience. Most of these have been
propelled by predictable story plots and clichéd dialogue. 5
FLIGHTS UP targets this same
audience, but with greater success possibly due to its engaging stars (MORGAN
FREEMAN and DIANE KEATON) and the fact that it was based on a novel: Heroic Measures by Jill Ciment.
Helmed by British director, Richard
Loncraine, 5 FLIGHTS UP tells the
story of Alex and Ruth Carver, a Brooklyn couple who have been happily married
for forty years. Having lived in the
same 2 bedroom apartment for all of their married lives, they are cajoled by
Ruth’s aggressive real estate agent niece, Lily, (CYNTHIA NIXON) to take advantage of
a booming real estate market and to put their apartment up for sale. With the money made on a sale, they could
afford to purchase a more modern apartment - one with an elevator - something
worth considering now that they are in their “sunset years.”
Though Alex would much prefer
remaining in his home, the money is tempting since living in New York City is
expensive and they are by no means rich. Ruth is a retired teacher and though
he has been a somewhat successful artist, sales of Alex’s work have diminished
over the years. In addition to this, their beloved dog, DOROTHY, has to undergo
some very expensive surgery.
Though the story is a good one,
some of the perspective buyers who invade the Carvers’ home tend to be
stereotypes of the “typical” New Yorker:
The abrasive yuppie whose cell phone is glued to his ear, the lesbian
couple and their dog, the “lookie-loo” woman who visits all the open houses
simply because she’s nosy. In all
fairness, these characters might have been more developed in the novel. Unfortunately, because of time restraints, it
is often necessary to offer up quickie versions of characters who then
frequently come across as caricatures.
The other element that seemed
forced was a subplot of a hunt for a suspected bomb -wielding terrorist. Apparently, the hunt was resulting in
gridlock on the Williamsburg Bridge, something that could ostensibly hurt the
open house. It seemed that the true
purpose of the subplot was to open up the set.
Most shots were those of interiors of the various apartments; the
manhunt being aired on various televisions throughout the film, served to bring
in the outside world. The media’s
supposed rush to judgment also made somewhat of a political statement, but this
was very subtle.
The strength of this movie is in
the depiction of a married couple, devoted to one another, despite having faced
challenges throughout the years (they are a bi-racial couple who married at a
time when it was illegal to do so in many states and they also had to deal with
Ruth’s devastation at learning she was infertile.)
The casting of Freeman and Keaton is what
makes 5 FLIGHTS UP well worth seeing
if for no other reason than for the warmth they emanate and the remarkable
chemistry they share.
Out of a possible 5 bags of
popcorn, I’d give it 3 ½ bags.
Thanks for reading Rhodes Less Traveled. Feel free to follow me on twitter @VivianWrites
Have a good week, Vivian
