Greetings,
I certainly do love movies wherein music plays a very significant role, which is one reason why I specifically label those reviews as such. Another thing I love is a directorial debut. I like to see where an artist starts and try to imagine where it is that they will go. Well, we've got a double whammy today with Rudderless. It is a film that has much to do with music and, at its helm, we have first time director, William H. Macy. Yeah, THAT William H. Macy. More on him and his directing later. Let's get down to business with the story of this film. Now it may seem like I'm giving spoilers, but I'm really not. Pretty much all of what I'll say is said in trailers and synopses. So, relax.
Rudderless is a 2014 film starring Billy Crudup as Sam, a father who is trying to deal with the loss of his college aged son, Josh. He begins the film as a suit wearing, strait-laced ad exec who clearly loves Josh, but it seems their relationship may have a bit of strain. After his son's death, however, he begins to turn his back on his former life, beginning to drink heavily, living on a boat and working for a contractor. After a couple of years, his ex-wife, Emily, played by Felicity Huffman, confronts him about his hiding away and basically pretending his way through life. Eventually, Sam does get out and goes to an open mic night at a place called The Trill Tavern, where he plays songs that Josh wrote, but he passes them off as his own. Because of that, he meets a young guy named Quentin, played by Anton Yelchin, who is enamored with the music and wants them to perform it together. Sam is reluctant, of course, but agrees, causing things with "his" music to build and build. However, this makes it more difficult for him to live with his secrets, and, as the film progresses, things are revealed to us as well as the other characters that seem to stop everything in its tracks. One thing in particular is revealed in such a way that I think should be taught to future film makers about how to properly and most effectively do a twist in a story. But we soon realize that everything coming to light is the only way that everyone will ever have a chance to move forward with their lives.
Now let me talk a bit more specifically about some of the cast. First, Billy Crudup. I think he's an actor who sometimes people forget how great he is, mostly because he's not in our faces all the time, like some people. But then, we see him in something like this and think, "Oh, yeah. He is rather amazing". I can safely say that I, personally, think this is his best performance ever. He had to carry so much of the film and run the gamut of emotions, and he did so pretty much flawlessly. Next up is his 'second-in-command', if you will, Anton Yelchin. Okay, to be honest, I didn't even recognize him at first, which I think is a good thing. It means he can become a character quite easily and convincingly, and he certainly does so here. Initially, I thought Quentin was going to be some kind of slight comic relief, but we soon see that, while he is fun, he does have his own problems to deal with. Then, we have Felicity Huffman, who clearly got this role thanks to nepotism, as she is married to the director. I kid. If she was awful, I would be serious, but no, she does a fantastic job in this part. Since she is also playing someone who lost a son but is not the central character, she has to convey her own anguish in a more compact way and with much less time with the audience. Somehow, she manages to do it. Though we, as the viewers, know Sam more intimately, we also feel her grief in a profound way. Next up is Laurence Fishbourne. He plays Del, the music store owner. You know, I can get behind Mr. Fishbourne in the more intimidating and, dare I say it, scary roles of his career, but I really do enjoy when he plays more lovable guys. That's the kind of person he portrays here. He's kind of like that guy you go to in the neighborhood when you need to talk, because he's a great listener. Also, I've always just assumed that Laurence Fishbourne gives awesome hugs, so why shouldn't he play roles like this? And finally, we have Selena Gomez, who plays Kate, the girl who was dating Josh at the time of his death. Okay, so here's the thing about Selena Gomez. As anybody who begins as a child actor tends to do, she has been spending the last few years trying to become a "grown-up" actress. And she has been, obviously, trying to do this through things like Springbreakers and Behaving Badly. If I may be so blunt as to say, THAT was not the way to do it. THIS IS! I'm not kidding. Selena was in only a handful of scenes in this movie, but, even in that limited time, I saw more potential in her as a maturing actress than I ever have. So, Selena, if you read this, keep going in this direction.
Of course, those were just the main roles in the film. However, all of the cast, even down to the smallest parts were very good. And not just because William H. Macy cast himself as bar owner guy. Hey, at least, he's humble enough to do that, and not cast himself as a literary messiah like I've seen some directors do. But I digress. No, all the actors, extras and everyone, do a good job. That's how you build a great film, I think. Take care with everything, even the things that some people believe don't matter. Because they do.
Okay, and now the music. The songs in this film were, I would say, very well suited to it. Considering what their origin is, they are pretty much what you'd expect, style wise, which is not a bad thing. But when you really pay attention to the lyrics of the songs, they fit even better, almost perfectly. I'm not sure if any of them could be something that would become a "hit song" at least not by the sub par standards of the charts these days, but maybe that's why I found them so appealing. They were personal, and, again, that is exactly what this film needed.
Alright, FINALLY, let's talk about our esteemed director, William H. Macy. I have loved this guy since I first remember seeing him in Mr. Holland's Opus as the Vice Principal and slight nemesis of the titular character. Oh, the beautiful irony of an actor, at one point, playing a man who tosses out a school's music program and then, directing a film where music is massively important. You know, as much as I enjoy directorial debuts, there is one thing that I notice sometimes. Some first time directors are way too ambitious and get in over their heads. Sometimes they recover; sometimes they don't. But I think it happens because they just might not know any better at the time. With this film and the directing of it, you can tell that William H. Macy is a man who has not only been in the movie business for a long time, but who has clearly paid attention and learned from the directors with whom he has worked. Mr. Macy has begun his directing career simply with a story about people and the lives that they are living. Yes, there is a depth to what is happening in the story, because people are complex, but it is presented in a way where we can watch and relate to it and wonder how we would react. Because what happens in this film will not happen to everyone, but it certainly could. When I speak of a film's simplicity, that is usually to what I am referring. And there is an absolutely beautiful simplicity to this story. I hope so much that William H. Macy continues to bring us this kind of amazing work as a director. We need it.
Okay, I wrote A LOT here, so let me wrap this up. Definitely check this movie out. Rudderless is heartbreaking but also heartwarming in many ways. It's an exquisite portrait about life and how it can turn on us and force us to take the reins when we've just been going with the flow. You might cry; I did a little. But it was worth it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
