Hey folks, Harry here... Well most of us haven't seen the future Darth Vader.... Our new Anakin Skywalker perform in any films yet. We look at the docile images of his face thus far in publicity photos and wonder.... Is he just a pretty boy without a pinch of talent? Will Hayden sink Episode 2 before you can say, "Yousa means peoples gonna diiiiiiieeeee?" Well, this has been one of the question marks that I've been hoping to various ancient demons and tentacled creations that this would not be the case. That Hayden Christensen would be a fountain of talent to give us all the Anakin and Vader we know he needs to become on screen. So.... Let's all read this review of LIFE AS A HOUSE, a movie you probably wouldn't care two shakes of a stick about, and see... Can Hayden Christensen act his way out of a wet paper sack?
Hey there Harry. You might remember me from a review I sent in a couple of weeks ago for "A Knight's Tale" . Well, I am back with another review. Tonight I attended a screening of "Life as a House". It was a rough cut with a temporary soundtrack, but overall felt like a complete film. It was directed by Irwin Winkler ("At First Sight", "The Net"), written by Mark Andrus ("As Good as it Gets") and starred Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas. But the real news here is the third star, none other then the future Sith Lord himself Hayden Christensen in what will be his first major role before he dons the Jedi robes. To see his performance, to find out whether or not the future of Star Wars was in jeopardy, to find out if Jake Loyd grows up to be a better actor, was the only reason I went to see this movie. And after a brief breakdown of the film, I will let you know.
George (Kevin Kline) finds out he only has months to live and decides to spend his remaining time building his dream house by the ocean with his estranged son Sam (Hayden Christensen). As they tear down the old house and build a new one in its place, the relationship between father and son grows stronger. Along the way other characters, like George's ex-wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) and mother and daughter neighbors (Mary Steenburgen, Jena Malone) join in to help as different plot threads all begin to intersect at the construction of this house. The end result is an insightful cross-section of American Family Life. All in all this is an excellent film. Mark Andrus has delivered another first rate screenplay and the performances are strong all around. Although the symbolism is a little heavy-handed, as the title implies, it is still very effective. As a whole the movie plays like a combination of the softer, gentler cousin of "American Beauty" with a touch of "Terms of Endearment" thrown in. In fact many small details of this film bear a striking resemblance to "American Beauty". Both have a middle-aged man dissatisfied with his life. Both have a dark, brooding teenage boy. Both have a Lolita-esque teenage girl. Both feature an adult lusting after a minor. Both have an "ejaculation in the shower" scene. And most disturbing of all, both feature Scott Bakula and Sam Robards in small roles, although in "Life as a House" they are not a gay couple (or are they?). Thematically both films deal with regret, repressed desire and unfulfilled dreams, but "Life as a House" is more about redemption, and in the end, although slightly predictable, is very touching and poignant. I don't know what New Line's plans are for this film, but I think they should consider a 2001 fall release for potential Oscar consideration.
And now on to the real news....Star Wars fans across the world join hands, cast your faces Heavenward and make a Joyous Sound! Rejoice my brothers and sisters! Rejoice! Hayden Christensen is the real deal! This kid is going kick ass as Anakin! For the 5-6 billion people who might have missed "Lost in a Purple Haze" and blinked during his appearance in "The Virgin Suicides", this film is the first real test of the future Dark Lord. And he passes with flying colors! His performance runs the gamut from heartbreaking vulnerability to brooding sullenness to tempestuous anger with nimbleness and aplomb. He displayed all the qualities that Anakin is going to need in Episodes II and III, and even despite George Lucas's infamously minimalist direction of actors ("faster, more intense"), Hayden will deliver the goods. He is guaranteed to wash those stubborn Jake Loyd stains right out of your brain and I predict that between this role and Episode II, Hayden Christensen will be the breakout star of 2002.
Call me "Charlie Hodge"
Ok, collectively... BIG SIIIIIIIIIIGH.....
