Genre: psychological drama
Director: David Jacobson
Release: 2006
Studio: Class 5 Films et al. - ThinkFilm
Rating: R
MBiS score: 6.4/10
Not HIGH NOON But High On Something
Being stuck in the California burbs with a stern father and a maladjusted brother would be a trying experience for any red-blooded teenager… but not for Tobe Simmons (Evan Rachel Wood). There’s a new man in her life now, a handsome cowboy named Harlan Fairfax Carruthers (Edward Norton). With David Morse (father Wade), Rory Culkin (brother Lonnie), Bruce Dern (Charlie), John Diehl (Steve) and Geoffrey Lewis (Sheridan).
With due apologies to Sergio Leone, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY describes appropriately (and ominously) enough what DOWN IN THE VALLEY has to offer. Without a doubt, the movie’s strongest asset is a solid group of actors, chiefly Evan Rachel Wood and Edward Norton whose eye-catching interplay should not be called “chemistry” but rather “nuclear fission”. Their first meeting at the gas station ranks among the sexiest scenes I have witnessed in a long while and their overall performance does eminent justice to the multi-faceted but ultimately thankless roles assigned to them. (Please excuse my partiality for Edward, whom I regard as one of the finest actors in film today.) Production values for DOWN IN THE VALLEY are also irreproachable and the film’s clean visuals adequately capture Tobe’s stifling family life and the feeling of vibrancy Harlan’s presence instills in her.
However, few movies can survive an overwrought and derivative story-line and, after an early gallop, DOWN IN THE VALLEY sinks like a tired nag in quicksand and drags you down with it.
Warning – spoilers ahead! Predictably enough, Harlan’s sincerity and easygoing charm hide a tortured and sinister soul (à la Travis Bickle in TAXI DRIVER) and our lonesome cowboy stranded in the Valley will cunningly chip away at the Simmons household (as in CAPE FEAR, another Robert De Niro vehicle). As you may have guessed, common sense then loses out to evil’s seduction, tempers flare up and nasty words are spoken. When her unyielding father overtly threatens Harlan, Tobe manages to slip away from home and casually finds her cowboy - an incomprehensible script defect since mean daddy Wade had stopped her once at her window but neglected to guard it this time around. Fortunately for them, script logic no longer matters at this point: guns have been flashed around and you get the notion they'll be fired before long.
This is when things get downright ugly... possibly on the theory that gratuitous violence makes for "good" drama and potential moola at the box office. Harlan still loves Tobe but almost kills her (oops!) and, since he is now unmistakably dangerous, a crazy posse is set up to pursue him. The chase leads to a movie studio lot – a “Showdown at the Cardboard Corral” if you will – and ends on a construction site (remember WESTWORLD?). Posse finds prey, cowboy kicks the bucket. But wait… it’s not over yet. You still have to endure that pathetic closing scene where Tobe disposes of the dude’s ashes. Why does she bother? And who paid for cremation? I really don’t know. For you at least, the message is clear: if you have been lucky enough to miss DOWN IN THE VALLEY, don't run to see it. There are tons of better movies out there. Sorry!
MBiS
© 2008 – All rights reserved
