Destiny
has always been a popular theme in cinema. From the lighthearted feel of Sleepless
in Seattle, to the wonderfully eccentric When Harry Met Sally, to this year's
earnestly old fashioned Return to Me. Director Don Roos (Opposite of Sex, Boys
on the Side) has decided to take a serious more serious look at destiny with his
new film Bounce, a stilted drama that only succeeds part of the time .
Ben
Affleck plays an executive who usually gets what he wants at work and in his personal
life. While hanging out a sports bar during a delay at the airport he strikes
up a conversation with a playwright played by Tony Goldwyn (in a winning, all
too brief performance). Goldwyn is in a rush to get home to his wife and kids
for the holidays, and Affleck is in no particular hurry because he's busy making
the moves on a woman at the bar, so he forfeits his ticket to Goldwyn. Naturally,
a fateful event takes place leaving Affleck, and Goldwyn's wife (played by Gwyneth
Paltrow) in emotional shambles. Seeking some kind of redemption, Affleck seeks
out Paltrow to try and make things right.
Let's
start with Paltrow. In a year brimming with lame roles for women, Paltrow emerges
as a strong Oscar contender. She plays Abby with an extraordinary strength and
vulnerability that really carries this picture. Her breakdown scene early on in
the film is so convincing that it's almost hard to watch. She also exudes a warmth
that is quite engaging. This is some of her best work.
For
Affleck, on the other hand, it's crash and burn, if you'll pardon the pun. Actually,
that's a bit harsh. He isn't unwatchable in the film, but his character certainly
demands a complexity that is out of the actor's range. The pain this guy is supposed
to be feeling is never really apparent, and many of Affleck's teary eyed moments
seem forced. He fared better in his dramatic moments in Chasing Amy.
Roos
makes some critical errors in his execution as a writer and a director. First
of all, some of Bounce doesn't play realistically. For example, the sports bar
sequence at the beginning of the film doesn't ring true, because these are characters
that just met, yet there is a strange vibe permeating the scene that suggests
they already know each other. Also, there is a half baked scene between Affleck
and Paltrow's kids, that doesn't reach the drama it's going for, because there
is no rapport built between the characters. This results in an emotionless moment
that is supposed to be powerful.
Finally,
I couldn't stand the fact that Affleck can't find the right moment to reveal his
secret to Paltrow. Of course she finds out through another source, and what transpires,
is an all too familiar set of circumstances taken from the movie cliche graveyard.
It should also be noted that Roos seems compelled to throw many obstacles at his
characters such as Affleck's undeveloped bout with alcoholism. On the directing
end, Roos can't seem to keep the pacing together. Much of this film, particularly
the final act, is plodding and tedious. It's all capped off with an obvious ending.
Roos
had a pretty good idea going here, but he only got half of it right. The Paltrow
half. It's nice to see a film maker attempt to create some truly complex and adult
characters, it's just a shame that he couldn't put them in a more solid scenario.
As for Affleck, he's still a talented actor in search of that ideal role. Maybe
he'll find it in the form of Michael Bay's Pear Harbor next summer.
