In the first 30 minutes of Alan Ball's film adaptation of Alicia Erian's novel, "Towelhead", I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep watching. The abrasiveness was getting to me. The characters were not likable. Being a film fan, I stuck it out, and I'm glad I did.
"Towelhead" is brave, honest, real, and moving - this is why I fell in love with cinema. Alan Ball masterfully directs his piece and his actors in a brave way that is rarely seen in film today. This could easily be an Oscar grab, but it's not, which is why you'll see it rated very in between. Sure, our subjects go through changes and have experiences, but all of the results are very realistic to true life.
We follow 13 year old Jasira Maroun (Summer Bishil) as she moves in with her Father (Peter Macdissi) in a Texas suburb after being caught shaving her nether regions with her Mother's boyfriend (Chris Messina). Jasira deals with her budding sexuality, her controlling and hypocritical Father, racism, and adults who act like children on her way to her own sexual and emotional awakening.
Why the first act of this film is very tough to deal with is that it doesn't pull any punches on the audience. There are devices to ease us into the content which the film presents. It is blunt, and given the subject matter and outcome of the film itself, this is a good quality for it to have. It is very brave of a man like Alan Ball, who has never directed a feature prior to this, to present his first attempt in this way.
As the film progresses, we become well aware of what is in store for us. It is a tough watch, that's for sure. Not all films are going to be an hour and a half of smooth sailing, taking your eyes off the screen for minutes at a time, coming back and not being effected. "Towelhead" is excellent story-telling, and should be viewed as full and complete. Art can be tough on it's audience, and still considered of the highest quality.
What really holds this film together is it's performances. Aaron Eckhart's brave performance as Travis Vuoso, a 36 year old Army Reserve who takes a liking to Jasira, is one of the bravest and least selfish screen performances by a well known actor is recent years. There is no payoff for Eckhart or the man he portrays on screen, and for him to take such a role and do such a great job is a promising note for his future career.
Peter Macdissi is also very good in his role, which has little pay-off for the performer. A border-line (and sometimes over that line) abusive, possibly closeted homosexual, racist, and hypocritical Father. It can be stated that he is pretty much just a douche bag, in plainest English. The acting is very fearless from all angles. Not to mention our main character, played by a girl of 18 as a 13 year old, is beautifully done despite all the criticism aimed in her direction since this films opening. She is more than convincing.
Some might tell you that they have no belief in this story of that it is not realistic. My response that is that plenty of things go down in the world to many people. Some people's coming of age experience is much different than others. If you cannot open your mind and sit through 2 hours of someone else's, you probably shouldn't be voicing your opinion on film in the first place. You have every right to, but it will be taken with a grain of salt if your mind isn't open at all times.
"Towelhead" is brave, honest, real, and moving - this is why I fell in love with cinema. Alan Ball masterfully directs his piece and his actors in a brave way that is rarely seen in film today. This could easily be an Oscar grab, but it's not, which is why you'll see it rated very in between. Sure, our subjects go through changes and have experiences, but all of the results are very realistic to true life.
We follow 13 year old Jasira Maroun (Summer Bishil) as she moves in with her Father (Peter Macdissi) in a Texas suburb after being caught shaving her nether regions with her Mother's boyfriend (Chris Messina). Jasira deals with her budding sexuality, her controlling and hypocritical Father, racism, and adults who act like children on her way to her own sexual and emotional awakening.
Why the first act of this film is very tough to deal with is that it doesn't pull any punches on the audience. There are devices to ease us into the content which the film presents. It is blunt, and given the subject matter and outcome of the film itself, this is a good quality for it to have. It is very brave of a man like Alan Ball, who has never directed a feature prior to this, to present his first attempt in this way.
As the film progresses, we become well aware of what is in store for us. It is a tough watch, that's for sure. Not all films are going to be an hour and a half of smooth sailing, taking your eyes off the screen for minutes at a time, coming back and not being effected. "Towelhead" is excellent story-telling, and should be viewed as full and complete. Art can be tough on it's audience, and still considered of the highest quality.
What really holds this film together is it's performances. Aaron Eckhart's brave performance as Travis Vuoso, a 36 year old Army Reserve who takes a liking to Jasira, is one of the bravest and least selfish screen performances by a well known actor is recent years. There is no payoff for Eckhart or the man he portrays on screen, and for him to take such a role and do such a great job is a promising note for his future career.
Peter Macdissi is also very good in his role, which has little pay-off for the performer. A border-line (and sometimes over that line) abusive, possibly closeted homosexual, racist, and hypocritical Father. It can be stated that he is pretty much just a douche bag, in plainest English. The acting is very fearless from all angles. Not to mention our main character, played by a girl of 18 as a 13 year old, is beautifully done despite all the criticism aimed in her direction since this films opening. She is more than convincing.
Some might tell you that they have no belief in this story of that it is not realistic. My response that is that plenty of things go down in the world to many people. Some people's coming of age experience is much different than others. If you cannot open your mind and sit through 2 hours of someone else's, you probably shouldn't be voicing your opinion on film in the first place. You have every right to, but it will be taken with a grain of salt if your mind isn't open at all times.