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Jim Mangold's directorial debut, Heavy, lies at the other
end of the spectrum of American independent cinema to the likes
of Quentin Tarantino. It's not about boys with guns; it's a slow-burning
character study of people whose lives touch for a fleeting moment
before drifting apart. It's set in 'Pete and Dolly's', a roadside
diner in a rural backwater of upstate New York, à la Edward
Hopper. Here, Victor (Pruitt Taylor Vince), an overweight pizza
chef, is in the thrall of his domineering mother (Shelley Winters)
who runs the joint. His only refuge from her and their bullying,
rough-and-ready waitress (ex-Blondie pop diva Debbie Harry) is
a morose trip to the local grocery store. When a beautiful college
drop-out (Liv Tyler) joins as the diner's new waitress his world
is rocked, and Victor eventually waddles from a depressed and
insular existence into the realms of possibility where decisions
are realisable. Patience is a virtue with Heavy. Relying
more on intimate gestures and silent moments than any loud and
clever verbal references to pop culture, it's a sensitive and
ultimately uplifting film, heralding the arrival of a major talent.
Reviewed by Monika Maurer
Reader comments about Heavy
Cron Dex (crondex@hotmail.com) writes:
This movie was refreshing. In European style, it captured the inner emotions of a sad man and his sorry life. Although the film could have ended tragically, the conclusion left a positive impression, offering hope for the future for his pathetic existence.
The four main character roles were played impressively with extreme kudos to Pruitt Taylor Vince. His performance rivaled that of Rod Steiger in Marty.
Rob C (Email address withheld) writes:
This is a film that will break your heart, but do it beautifully. There is a sweetness in the overwhelming sorrow surrounding these characters that comes from the wonderful interaction of very different characters. Change is inevitable and painful; the characters and the viewers know that, but there are moments in the film when time seems to stop and the heartbreak evaporates. If you have a soul, this film will move you.
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