War Eagle, Arkansas
3/4
Starring: Luke Grimes, Dan McCabe, Brian Dennehy, Mare Winningham, Misti Traya, James McDaniel, Mary Kay Place
Rated PG-13 for Language and Sexual References
Looks can be deceiving...
Initially, "War Eagle, Arkansas" appears to be a standard order buddy comedy. It's got the shy, handsome lead and his colorful and quirky best friend. But as the film goes on, we realize that director Robert Milazzo has tapped into something much more original and powerful.
Enoch Cass (Grimes) is a star baseball player in the tiny town of War Eagle, Arkansas. His best friend is Sam "Wheels" Macon (McCabe), so named because his cerebral palsy has left him confined to a wheelchair. Both of them fill a need for each other: Enoch has a severe stammer, especially when he gets nervous, so Wheels does a lot of the talking for him and gives him confidence. Enoch is strong enough to perform the physical activities that neither Wheels nor his mother Jessie (Place) can do. But their bond is so strong and mutually dependent that it could threaten Enoch's future as a baseball player.
Both Enoch and Wheels are well-developed, which is crucial for the movie to work. They fulfill each other's needs. But Milazzo takes the time to show that while the relationship has its good points for both of them, it's becoming unhealthy for Enoch. Enoch is so shy that he has to have Wheels call up the girl he likes (this eventually leads to a hilarious and unconventional date). His relationship with Wheels also jeopardizes his future as a possible college ball player, which Wheels realizes.
The performances are effective, but no one truly wowed me. I guess that makes sense for a quiet, laid back drama like this. Both Grimes and McCabe are terrific. It's not that they get the physical aspects of their characters (which are never less than entirely convincing...I was kind of shocked to see McCabe standing in a picture of the film's premiere), but that they get inside their characters's heads. They understand the people they are playing, and that gives the film its emotional punch. It's hard not to feel for the painfully shy Enoch and Wheels' tell-it-like-it-is approach to life leads to some amusing moments. The rest of the cast provides solid support, but this is their show.
The problem with the film is the ending. I can't go into specifics without giving anything away, but I will say that it's almost a cheat. It gets us hoping for one ending, then it suddenly changes its mind and presents the exact opposite as a happy ending. It's pretty jarring.
This is a small film made for a small audience. But the people involved wanted to tell it, and that's what makes it worth seeking out.
Starring: Luke Grimes, Dan McCabe, Brian Dennehy, Mare Winningham, Misti Traya, James McDaniel, Mary Kay Place
Rated PG-13 for Language and Sexual References
Looks can be deceiving...
Initially, "War Eagle, Arkansas" appears to be a standard order buddy comedy. It's got the shy, handsome lead and his colorful and quirky best friend. But as the film goes on, we realize that director Robert Milazzo has tapped into something much more original and powerful.
Enoch Cass (Grimes) is a star baseball player in the tiny town of War Eagle, Arkansas. His best friend is Sam "Wheels" Macon (McCabe), so named because his cerebral palsy has left him confined to a wheelchair. Both of them fill a need for each other: Enoch has a severe stammer, especially when he gets nervous, so Wheels does a lot of the talking for him and gives him confidence. Enoch is strong enough to perform the physical activities that neither Wheels nor his mother Jessie (Place) can do. But their bond is so strong and mutually dependent that it could threaten Enoch's future as a baseball player.
Both Enoch and Wheels are well-developed, which is crucial for the movie to work. They fulfill each other's needs. But Milazzo takes the time to show that while the relationship has its good points for both of them, it's becoming unhealthy for Enoch. Enoch is so shy that he has to have Wheels call up the girl he likes (this eventually leads to a hilarious and unconventional date). His relationship with Wheels also jeopardizes his future as a possible college ball player, which Wheels realizes.
The performances are effective, but no one truly wowed me. I guess that makes sense for a quiet, laid back drama like this. Both Grimes and McCabe are terrific. It's not that they get the physical aspects of their characters (which are never less than entirely convincing...I was kind of shocked to see McCabe standing in a picture of the film's premiere), but that they get inside their characters's heads. They understand the people they are playing, and that gives the film its emotional punch. It's hard not to feel for the painfully shy Enoch and Wheels' tell-it-like-it-is approach to life leads to some amusing moments. The rest of the cast provides solid support, but this is their show.
The problem with the film is the ending. I can't go into specifics without giving anything away, but I will say that it's almost a cheat. It gets us hoping for one ending, then it suddenly changes its mind and presents the exact opposite as a happy ending. It's pretty jarring.
This is a small film made for a small audience. But the people involved wanted to tell it, and that's what makes it worth seeking out.
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