When I exited the screening of "Sleepwalking", I overheard a theatre-goer question a friend.
"Well, did you like it?"
"No," she sighed. "It was too much of a downer".
True!
If you're lookin' for a feel-good movie with smart one-liners and a smash up or two - even a little taboo sexual innuendo tossed in - you'll have to focus your sights elsewhere.
For this family drama, Charlize Theron wore two hats; one as star, the other as producer of the project.
Although Theron turns in a fine performance as a troubled young mother facing personal demons, there aren't any insightful new revelations about her acting capabilities here, unfortunately.
In essence, her characterization is a facet of the same old same old.
On the other hand, with a deft hand at the helm of this modest quality movie (shot in Canada), Ms. Theron has clearly established she's one to reckon with on the production end.
There is no fat to trim, the casting is dead on, and the storytelling devices work admirably.
In a nutshell, "Sleepwalker" is a tale about a rebellious farm girl, forced to hit the road with her young brother, when she clashes with her father's puritanical ways and unrelenting work ethic.
As the film opens, the audience witnesses the main character's first dilemma, as she is turfed from her home on the heels of her boyfriend's arrest by old smoky after he's been caught cultivating marijuana.
Essentially, the drama focuses on her relationship with her young daughter, child services looming in the wings, and her sensitive brother who treads water on the sidelines until he is forced to swim forward to his niece's rescue at a critical arc in the film.
Sleepwalking is visually appealing, and graced with a well-written script, with bang-on believable dialogue.
The moviegoer can't help but be drawn in, so effective is the spinning of the yarn.
And, on occasion, the messages are fresh and revealing.
For example, in one key scene the brother breaks down, after years of pent-up emotion.
Here, the filmmakers appear to be underscoring a truth.
"Yes, even men have feelings, that cry out for expression."
And, when tears are shed on such an occasion, they are capable of healing, no matter the gender.
Acting kudos go to Nick Stahl in the role of the brother.
AnnaSophia Robb effectively digs under the skin as the daughter in a stand-out performance, as well.
Woody Harrelson takes a surprise turn as an offbeat character with an infectious sense of humor who elicits spontaneous gales of laughter from the audience.
As usual, Dennis Hopper rivets the moviegoer with his precise focus on details which add immeasurably to his menacing characterization.
In sum, "Sleepwalking" is an intimate film experience that touches, provokes thought - and ultimately - makes you ponder the human condition.
Dennis Hopper & AnnaSophia Robb sleepwalk...
