Arlington Road
Date viewed: July 10, 1999
Location: Chelsea Cinemas, Manhattan
Do you sometimes go to a movie and think it's OK-- perhaps even kind of good? But then, on the way home, you talk about it with your friends or your date. You start to think about some of the things in the movie that didn't make sense. The more you think about it, the more the plot seemed absurd. In fact, you could drive a truck through each and every hole in that stupid plot. By the time you get home you're really ticked off that you wasted two hours on such a lame film.
If this has never happened to you, go see Arlington Road and it will.
Jeff Bridges plays a single, suburban Virginia father whose wife was an FBI agent killed in the line of duty. (That's only the beginning of his problems.) He also teaches a class on American terrorism at George Washington University. A seemingly normal, dull couple (Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack--love her!) move in across the street with their three kids. Through a series of unusually coincidental events (isn't that always the way?) Jeff begins to think the Cleavers across the way are part of a terrorist group. Jeff's girlfriend thinks he's crazy. I think I was crazy to sit through the entire movie.
I must admit it's an interesting premise. How does one know who is safe and who is a crazy extremist? But that is only one small part of the entire movie. The rest ends up being a chase scene, will-the-hero-make-it-on-time action movie.
I can't tell you all the holes in the story without giving away the major plot points and the ending. Suffice it to say, an elaborate terrorist plot relies totally on the actions of one man that doesn't know anything about the plan. If he had made one move contrary to what everyone thought he'd do, then the plan would not work. It's just ludicrous.
And I didn't know there was such an electrical shortage in Reston, Virginia. The scenes set in the suburban homes are all very dark. Couldn't you see a lot better if you'd just turn on the lights? Maybe then Jeff wouldn't have to wear those ridiculous reading glasses. In fact, it was apparently so dark in his home that Jeff had to take his "secret" research on his neighbor to the back yard in the middle of the night only to fall asleep and be awakened by said neighbor in the morning with the incriminating page open on his lap. Call me picky, but if I were investigating my neighbor's past misdeeds, I'd do it somewhere very, very private.
But Miss Joan Cusack is winning in her role as a demented house wife. That smile which serves her so well in comedic roles can almost curdle your blood when you think she might be dangerous. Supporting Actress Oscar, baby. You deserved for In & Out. They'll give it to you for sure this time.
Listen to me: Don't waste
your time. You'll get more entertainment pulling out your binoculars and
spying on your own neighbors.
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