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JESUS' SON | |
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GRADE: B | It's my wife, and it's my life. |
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Billy Crudup is receiving rave reviews for this quirky character study, but I've got to admit that I never quite bought his self-consciously boyish characterization of a simpleminded addict. He comes across as a sweeter version of Tobey Maguire – just as deeply weird, but with a more rambunctious, guileless outer layer that makes the junkie within seem almost charming. Cherub-faced Samantha Morton is more credible as the sweet but world-worn girlfriend who comes to a predictably dire end. Denis Leary has a few good scenes as Crudup's drinking buddy, who's most resourceful when it comes to raising drug money. Not having read Denis Johnson's book, I'm assuming the title refers to Lou Reed's famous ode to heroin addiction ("When I'm rushing on my run/You know I feel just like Jesus' son"), which gives you an indication of the ground to be covered. The narrative, which darts hither and thither through time, tries way too hard to be clever, and I hope it plays less self-consciously on paper. However, the film's final third is unexpectedly affecting, with some apparently superfluous vignettes rounding out Crudup's character and giving the voiceover a reason to be. That I saw this within days of Praise probably didn't help me evaluate it strictly on its own merits.
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Directed by Alison Maclean Written by Elizabeth Cuthrell, David Urrutia, and Oren Moverman from the book by Denis Johnson USA, 2000
Theatrical aspect ratio: 2.35:1 | |
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