Come Early Morning
3.5/4
Starring: Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Donovan, Laura Prepon
Rated R for Language and Some Sexual Situations
It's always been clear that Ashley Judd has been a strong actress. From "Heat" to "High Crimes," Judd has always lit up the screen whenever she was on. Sadly for her, big budget scripts don't usually allow for much depth. In "Come Early Morning," Judd shows just how amazing she can be.
Lucy (Judd) is a deeply troubled woman. She drinks too much, sleeps with a lot of guys then bolts away the morning after. She equates sex with intimacy and has built up so many walls around her that she is unable to form a human connection. In walks Cal (Donovan), a nice guy who saves her from getting her ass kicked by the local bully. They tentatively form a relationship, but it's difficult going for them because she is too afraid to let down her guard.
This is Judd's film through and through. Present in every scene, this is all about her and her character Lucy Fowler. Judd is absolutely mesmerizing; she never strikes a wrong note. We like her, but we understand what she is feeling. It's not easy for anyone, much less Lucy, to wear their emotions on their sleeves, or to let their guard down. Remaining aloof means less pain when it blows up. She should have gotten an Oscar nomination (one that is long overdue) for her fearless performance. Judd buries herself deep into her character.
Judd may dominate the film, but she is surrounded by a fine supporting cast. Most surprising is Jeffrey Donovan. Donovan, a character actor best known for being the lead in the show "Burn Notice." I haven't seen the show, but I've seen him play sleazeballs very well ("Hitch" and "Changeling" come to mind). Cal is a nice ordinary guy. He does care for her, but he has self-respect (something that Lucy does not). There is a line in the sand where he will call it off, and if she's not careful, she'll cross it. Laura Prepon, famous for "That 70's Show," is also good as Lucy's roommate, Kim. Kim doesn't have love, but she has confidence, and that makes Lucy jealous of her.
Periodically, actors get the urge, and the chance, to get behind the camera. Mel Gibson, Frank Oz, Kevin Costner, Warren Beatty...there are plenty of them. Joey Lauren Adams, an actress best known for playing Ben Affleck's love interest in "Chasing Amy," takes to role of screenwriter and director, and it's an astonishing debut. Not quite as powerful as "The War Zone," but they're different movies. She'd been an actress for 15 years before she directed "Come Early Morning," and it's kind of obvious that she knows how to do this sort of thing. She takes her time developing the characters and doesn't rush things. Adams has a firm had when it comes to tone. She gets us into Lucy's mindset without overdoing it; it's not too depressing or melodramatic.
Lucy's relationships with her parents play an important part in the breakdown of Lucy's psyche, but unfortunately, they're half-developed. Especially that with her father, Lowell (character actor Scott Wilson). He doesn't say much, and I wasn't sure of what that meant. Her mother and step-father, played by Diane Ladd and Pat Corley are at least a little easier to read (they fight all the time and there is a hint that domestic violence of some kind may be present). Even less developed is Doll (Candyce Hinkle), a woman of deteriorating mental faculties whose relationship with Lucy is never made clear.
I also had a problem with the ending. It's not what happens that bothers me; it's honest and rings true (which cannot be said of many romances). What bothers me is how Lucy reacts to it. I didn't believe in what she did and how she feels. The majority of the film is a near masterwork, but it stumbles in the final 10 minutes.
Lest I make this movie sound completely depressing, I assure you that there are many scenes of warmth in this film. Judd has a great smile, and when Lucy allows herself to be happy, the emotion jumps off the screen.
Starring: Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Donovan, Laura Prepon
Rated R for Language and Some Sexual Situations
It's always been clear that Ashley Judd has been a strong actress. From "Heat" to "High Crimes," Judd has always lit up the screen whenever she was on. Sadly for her, big budget scripts don't usually allow for much depth. In "Come Early Morning," Judd shows just how amazing she can be.
Lucy (Judd) is a deeply troubled woman. She drinks too much, sleeps with a lot of guys then bolts away the morning after. She equates sex with intimacy and has built up so many walls around her that she is unable to form a human connection. In walks Cal (Donovan), a nice guy who saves her from getting her ass kicked by the local bully. They tentatively form a relationship, but it's difficult going for them because she is too afraid to let down her guard.
This is Judd's film through and through. Present in every scene, this is all about her and her character Lucy Fowler. Judd is absolutely mesmerizing; she never strikes a wrong note. We like her, but we understand what she is feeling. It's not easy for anyone, much less Lucy, to wear their emotions on their sleeves, or to let their guard down. Remaining aloof means less pain when it blows up. She should have gotten an Oscar nomination (one that is long overdue) for her fearless performance. Judd buries herself deep into her character.
Judd may dominate the film, but she is surrounded by a fine supporting cast. Most surprising is Jeffrey Donovan. Donovan, a character actor best known for being the lead in the show "Burn Notice." I haven't seen the show, but I've seen him play sleazeballs very well ("Hitch" and "Changeling" come to mind). Cal is a nice ordinary guy. He does care for her, but he has self-respect (something that Lucy does not). There is a line in the sand where he will call it off, and if she's not careful, she'll cross it. Laura Prepon, famous for "That 70's Show," is also good as Lucy's roommate, Kim. Kim doesn't have love, but she has confidence, and that makes Lucy jealous of her.
Periodically, actors get the urge, and the chance, to get behind the camera. Mel Gibson, Frank Oz, Kevin Costner, Warren Beatty...there are plenty of them. Joey Lauren Adams, an actress best known for playing Ben Affleck's love interest in "Chasing Amy," takes to role of screenwriter and director, and it's an astonishing debut. Not quite as powerful as "The War Zone," but they're different movies. She'd been an actress for 15 years before she directed "Come Early Morning," and it's kind of obvious that she knows how to do this sort of thing. She takes her time developing the characters and doesn't rush things. Adams has a firm had when it comes to tone. She gets us into Lucy's mindset without overdoing it; it's not too depressing or melodramatic.
Lucy's relationships with her parents play an important part in the breakdown of Lucy's psyche, but unfortunately, they're half-developed. Especially that with her father, Lowell (character actor Scott Wilson). He doesn't say much, and I wasn't sure of what that meant. Her mother and step-father, played by Diane Ladd and Pat Corley are at least a little easier to read (they fight all the time and there is a hint that domestic violence of some kind may be present). Even less developed is Doll (Candyce Hinkle), a woman of deteriorating mental faculties whose relationship with Lucy is never made clear.
I also had a problem with the ending. It's not what happens that bothers me; it's honest and rings true (which cannot be said of many romances). What bothers me is how Lucy reacts to it. I didn't believe in what she did and how she feels. The majority of the film is a near masterwork, but it stumbles in the final 10 minutes.
Lest I make this movie sound completely depressing, I assure you that there are many scenes of warmth in this film. Judd has a great smile, and when Lucy allows herself to be happy, the emotion jumps off the screen.
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