 |
Originally filmed
in 1998, “A Slipping Down Life”
stars indie-film favorite Lili Taylor as
Evie Decker, an unassuming woman living
a rather sad and depressing life. She works
in a dead end job, has few friends and lives
with her widower father (Tom Bower). After
hearing a radio interview with a local rock
musician named (oddly enough) Drumstrings
Casey (Guy Pearce), she decides to head
to a local roadhouse to see him perform.
She becomes instantly attracted to him,
and as she attends more of his show becomes
increasingly obsessed. Then, in an moment
of misguided self-assertion, carves his
name into her forehead.
As one might expect, this catches Drumstring’s
attention, and his manager (John Hawkes)
opts to use her ‘self-mutilation’
as a gimmick to market him. Drumstring and
Evie, after a while start to become closer,
drawn together both by physical needs as
well as emotional. The relationship they
have is a tenuous one, brought on by their
individual insecurities, but together they
begin to realize that life in this small
town just doesn’t allow them to realize
their full potential.
|
So, either together, or apart they must choose
their path.
“A Slipping Down Life” is a very
strange movie, to be sure, but in the hands of
newbie director Toni Kalem, it comes across as
both believable and compelling. Credit must also
be given to Taylor and Pearce. Both are terrific
actors that I enjoy in mainstream movies as well
as independent and quirky films like these. I
don’t think I’ve ever seen either
of them in a film, where they don’t give
110% of themselves in order to breathe a 3-dimensional
life into their roles. It is no different here.
Watching the film though, I can’t help but
feel that the audience for it will probably be
fairly small. Where most audiences prefer the
big summer blockbusters, “A Slipping Down
Life” is far more on the cerebral side.
I’m sure this is why it took so long to
release. The DVD market has really paved the way
for movies like these to reach new audiences that
might otherwise miss them.
Lion’s Gate, who is well known for not only
releasing some great big-budget movies but, smaller
independent fare as well, is behind this particular
DVD. And while I applaud their willingness to
take o gamble on its finding an audience, I do
wish they had taken a little more time to include
some extra features for that audience. A commentary,
or even an interview or two, would have been a
great addition. Especially with a movie like this
that is a little different. Input from the director
or star can go a long way into helping the ‘independent
movie deprived’ appreciate the film a little
more.
I very much enjoyed “A Slipping Down Life”,
for its somewhat eccentric take on love, life
and romance between to disparate individuals,
but be warned it moves a little slow and requires
a bit of thought.
Directed by: Toni Kalem
Starring: Guy Pearce, Lili Taylor, Irma P. Hall,
John Hawkes, Veronica Cartwright, Marshall Bell,
Shawnee Smith, Sara Rue, Bruno Kirby, Tom Bower
Extras: None
Specifications: Widescreen
Studio: Lions Gate Films
Release Date: 10/19/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (For Language Including Sexual
References)
Website
We'll give A Slipping Down Life a B-.
|
