directed by:
Al Mertens written by: Al Mertens genre: Drama |
In "Thank You, Amelia Earhart," Myrtle is in her nineties and close to losing her home when she crosses paths with Season - a fresh out-of-school caregiver. Generations soon collide, as often is the case with Mrytle and her hardened exterior and foul-mouthed, bigoted point of view. Written and Directed by Al Mertins, it's important to note that there is a significant difference between directing a movie - and simply shooting a script. With that said, I had some trouble because there seemed to be no sense of visual rhythm unfolding as I watched. The back-and-forth exchanges between characters are composed within a flat, dull frame - eye lines that never really draw us in. I also couldn't help but think that the camera placement throughout the entire film often felt very uninspired and, yes – a little boring.
I was really trying to find something to go along with here. Yes, it is a familiar formula that you could liken to a "Driving Mrs. Daisy" or "Cobb" (minus the emotional punch), but the story plays it safe - merely brushing up against its themes in a flat, predictable way and never really having the courage to go where it needs to. There needs to be a more confident cinematic grasp of the material on the page, which ultimately led me to a fragmented, empty viewing experience.
With that said, it's important also to note that Mary Buss delivers a strong performance in the lead as Myrtle, essentially carrying the entire film at times. That alone, unfortunately, can't save the picture in the end. I feel that "Thank You, Amelia Earhart" would probably play out better on stage. Now, a couple of good moments are captured well within flashbacks in the final act, with nice performances turned in from both Josiah Overstreet and Olivia Buss in supporting roles. I really struggled with this one. No doubt about that. Although the story comes from somewhere authentic, for me, it has very little pulse as a film. Season - who is essentially our (the viewers') point of view in the world of the movie is instantly forgettable - not because it's a bad performance - but because it is confined and unexplored. Two stars. |
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