PARK CITY -- "Loggerheads" is an ambitious and intricately structured first-time narrative film from documentarian Tim Kirkman. While subject matter and insights are far from new, the writer-director takes an unusual approach and is rewarded with honest and pensive performances by a fine ensemble cast. The film lacks somewhat in dramatic energy, so its theatrical appeal is limited mostly to festivals and gay programming.
The conflicts in "Loggerheads" are oh-so-carefully and quietly modulated. Even in sharp exchanges -- and these are rare -- no one raises his or her voice. The story takes place in communities, where people try to keep personal matters far from public view so when things do boil to the surface it's a slow, managed boil.
Kirkman's strategy is to interweave three stories, each set in a different year on a Mother's Day weekend in North Carolina, Kirkman's home state. Unfortunately, the different time frames are not immediately apparent so audiences may become understandably confused.
Grace (Bonnie Hunt) returns to her hometown following a suicide attempt to stay awhile with her mother (Michael Learned). She finally decides to begin a search for the Baby Boy she was forced by her mother to give up for adoption so many years earlier.
Mark (Kip Pardue), a young man clearly adrift in life, comes to a small beach town with the goal of helping to save the endangered loggerhead turtles. George (Michael Kelly), a motel owner who is attracted to him, offers Mark a room in his less-than-successful establishment. Mark's admission that he is HIV positive puts a momentary damper on the sexual side to their relationship, but the two grow closer as Mark opens up about the demons that haunt him.
A minister's wife (Tess Harper) must confront a changing society where homosexuality is in the open and the fact their son, who is gay, ran away from home since he was unable to find acceptance in a home dominated by the rigid if not bigoted sense of morality of her husband (Chris Sarandon).
Audiences will quickly realize the connection among the three stories. They can just as quickly guess what is at the root of everyone's dilemma for there is a bit too much Psychology 101 here. The film never really digs deep enough.
Similarly, the twin villains of small-town conformity and religious intolerance, while valid, are more than a little tired. The drama enters much firmer ground when it moves into the area of adoption rights and people's desire to reach out and restore severed ties. Here the film is quite touching.
Cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg shoots in muted colors that create beautiful landscapes where you can almost feel the regret and loss. Mark Geary's soft music is used minimally as Kirkman often prefers a country song or two.
LOGGERHEADS
Independent Dream Motion Pictures
Presents
A LaSalleHolland Production
In Association with dB120 Films
Credits:
Writer/director: Tim Kirkman
Producer: Gill Holland
Executive producers: Lillian LaSalle, Stephen Hays
Co-producers: Cindy Tolan, Les Franck, Zeke Zelker
Director of photography: Oliver Bokelberg
Production designer: Jim Shaugnessy
Music: Mark Geary
Costume designer: Susan Oliver
Editor: Caitlin Dixon.
Cast:
Elizabeth: Tess Harper
Grace: Bonnie Hunt
George: Michael Kelly
Sheridan: Michael Learned
Mark: Kip Pardue
Ruth: Ann Pierce
Robert: Chris Sarandon
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 95 minutes...
The conflicts in "Loggerheads" are oh-so-carefully and quietly modulated. Even in sharp exchanges -- and these are rare -- no one raises his or her voice. The story takes place in communities, where people try to keep personal matters far from public view so when things do boil to the surface it's a slow, managed boil.
Kirkman's strategy is to interweave three stories, each set in a different year on a Mother's Day weekend in North Carolina, Kirkman's home state. Unfortunately, the different time frames are not immediately apparent so audiences may become understandably confused.
Grace (Bonnie Hunt) returns to her hometown following a suicide attempt to stay awhile with her mother (Michael Learned). She finally decides to begin a search for the Baby Boy she was forced by her mother to give up for adoption so many years earlier.
Mark (Kip Pardue), a young man clearly adrift in life, comes to a small beach town with the goal of helping to save the endangered loggerhead turtles. George (Michael Kelly), a motel owner who is attracted to him, offers Mark a room in his less-than-successful establishment. Mark's admission that he is HIV positive puts a momentary damper on the sexual side to their relationship, but the two grow closer as Mark opens up about the demons that haunt him.
A minister's wife (Tess Harper) must confront a changing society where homosexuality is in the open and the fact their son, who is gay, ran away from home since he was unable to find acceptance in a home dominated by the rigid if not bigoted sense of morality of her husband (Chris Sarandon).
Audiences will quickly realize the connection among the three stories. They can just as quickly guess what is at the root of everyone's dilemma for there is a bit too much Psychology 101 here. The film never really digs deep enough.
Similarly, the twin villains of small-town conformity and religious intolerance, while valid, are more than a little tired. The drama enters much firmer ground when it moves into the area of adoption rights and people's desire to reach out and restore severed ties. Here the film is quite touching.
Cinematographer Oliver Bokelberg shoots in muted colors that create beautiful landscapes where you can almost feel the regret and loss. Mark Geary's soft music is used minimally as Kirkman often prefers a country song or two.
LOGGERHEADS
Independent Dream Motion Pictures
Presents
A LaSalleHolland Production
In Association with dB120 Films
Credits:
Writer/director: Tim Kirkman
Producer: Gill Holland
Executive producers: Lillian LaSalle, Stephen Hays
Co-producers: Cindy Tolan, Les Franck, Zeke Zelker
Director of photography: Oliver Bokelberg
Production designer: Jim Shaugnessy
Music: Mark Geary
Costume designer: Susan Oliver
Editor: Caitlin Dixon.
Cast:
Elizabeth: Tess Harper
Grace: Bonnie Hunt
George: Michael Kelly
Sheridan: Michael Learned
Mark: Kip Pardue
Ruth: Ann Pierce
Robert: Chris Sarandon
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 95 minutes...
- 1/21/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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