Jayne Mansfield's Car

source: Jayne Mansfield's Car

Great actors, awful directing, they call them movies because they are supposed to move, this one doesn't and it has the wrong music and poor uneven cinematography. Billy Bob, stick to acting. This movie is not entertaining. Oscar and this movie in the same sentence is an insult to Oscar. I'm not a voting member of the Academy. If I were, I would have to give it two thumbs down for blatant pandering to the academy while ignoring the ticket-buying public. Some good music from the 60's might at least give you the feeling of the era this movie is supposed to be in and moved things along a little better. I have never known a WW2 veteran that was Hippie, Kevin Bacon's part was unbelievable. Ron White was Ron White.

It's obvious that Director/Writer Billy Bob has a lot on His mind. Transferring those thoughts to the page might prove somewhat difficult. Imaging said thoughts on the Screen is even more of a challenge. Although it is a valiant effort, in the end it renders itself flat but occasionally interesting. There are far too many words in this misfire and a surprising lack of Style. 1969, at the height of very diverse opinions about the Vietnam War and Patriotism that did drive Families apart, would seem to be a fertile field for Thornton to let loose and express. But nothing here seems all that insightful or profound, more like a rambling, soft spoken rant on something about War, Family, Drugs, and Sex. It is not a bad Movie but falls very short from being anything more than a great many great Actors given a load of lethargic points to make and for the most part it all just seems sort of Ho Hum. Not the sort of thing that these deep and touching themes deserve. Jayne Mansfield's car does make a Cameo.

'JAYNE MANSFIELD'S CAR': Four Stars (Out of Five) Billy Bob Thornton directed, co-wrote and co-stars in this family drama film set in 1969 Alabama. Thornton plays a World War II vet in a family of military veterans lead by their father, a World War 1 vet (played by Robert Duvall). The family must deal with the unexpected death of the mother, who had lived with another family in London. The movie also stars John Hurt, Kevin Bacon, Robert Patrick, Katherine LaNasa, Ray Stevenson, Ron White, Shawnee Smith and Frances O'Connor. Thornton co- wrote the film with Tom Epperson and the two have written multiple other movies together (like the critically acclaimed indie crime drama 'ONE FALSE MOVE'). It's Thornton's first directing job since 2001's 'DADDY AND THEM' (which I haven't seen). It's not as classic as 'ONE FALSE MOVE' or Thornton's breakthrough hit 'SLING BLADE' but it is a competent and entertaining character study. Thornton plays Skip Caldwell, a 50-year-old World War II vet who still lives at home with his father Jim (Duvall). Jim is a veteran of World War 1 and Skip's brothers Carroll (Bacon) and Jimbo (Patrick) are also World War II vets. Jimbo never saw combat though. He's jealous of his brothers for that and still lives with his father as well, along with his wife (Smith) and son (Marshall Allman). Carroll lives with his son (John Patrick Amedori) and spends a lot of time doing drugs and protesting the war (which causes conflict with his father). When the boys' mother dies more conflict is created when her London family comes to town for the funeral. Jim has hated the man, that stole his wife (Hurt), for many years and finally meets him. Jim's daughter, Donna (LaNasa), also comes to town, for her mother's funeral, with her husband (White) and two daughters (Carissa Capobianco and Karli Barnett). The movie has a lot to say about war and 'peace vs. violence' (as a resolution to conflict) and does a good job of representing both sides of the issue (I think). It's full of heated debates and shows how the topic (as well as war itself) has affected so many. Thornton once again plays a mentally disturbed man child. His character is definitely hard to relate to but he's good in the role. Duvall is a scene stealer and I thought LaNasa was just too beautiful and stunning to look away from (I haven't seen her in anything else but she's very lovely and likable in this). Thornton's directing is always interesting to watch and his writing skills appear to be pretty decent. The film is just a character study, with not a lot actually taking place in it, but I thought it was still pretty entertaining and involving.

It's 1969 Morrison, Alabama. The Caldwell clan has 3 brothers Skip (Billy Bob Thornton), Carroll (Kevin Bacon), Jimbo (Robert Patrick), sister Donna (Katherine LaNasa), and patriarch Jim (Robert Duvall). The men are all veterans of various wars. When Jim's ex-wife and mother to the 'kids' die, her present husband Kingsley Bedford (John Hurt) and the Bedford family Phillip Bedford (Ray Stevenson), Camilla Bedford (Frances O'Connor) comes over from London to bury her back home in Alabama. The two families try to deal with the estranged relationships against a backdrop of volatile outside world of Vietnam and inner worlds. Jim is fascinated with car crashes. When a nearby town has a side show displaying Jayne Mansfield's car that she died in, Jim Caldwell takes Kingsley Bedford along for a look. This movie is jam packed with great actors but they keep getting into each other's way. Writer/director Billy Bob Thornton lets this assemble of talents go off on their own and loses any structure or narrative. There is a lack of clarity. It needs to tell us clearly that the kids aren't actually related early and often. There is also a plodding pace to it all. They are moseying along and every once in awhile, there is an amazing scene between some of these great actors. The movie is just too uneven with the splintered groups garnering different levels of interest.

The movie has nothing to do with Jayne Mansfield or anything to do with the accident. Unfortunately I have to believe that Mariska Hargitay shutters every time she sees the title and has to relive the horrible day her mother died. Mariska does not deserve this type of low class joke Unfortunately, I expect this low class type of joke because this movie is connected with Billy Bob Thornton. Being from Texas I am ashamed that Billy Bob is identified with our great state. Too bad that the distributor or someone with authority did not correct this complete lack of respect in a movie title. Here is a good title for the next Billy Bob movie, John Kennedy's Brains are in my Car.

So good to see Billy Bob Thornton back in the director's chair. I don't think anyone has as pinpoint an accuracy to the south of the United States as Thornton does in the modern idiom of film. The ensemble cast is amazing and authentically played by all. Loved the truth of characters with inseparable bond; so much organic glue like the humidity of the time and setting.Each character is fully formed, carrying with them a wealth of circumstances that we understand almost from the first introduction, furthermore, develops to full intricate discovery. I loved the juxtaposition expressed between the despairing union of opposing cultures.How wonderful the interplay between John Hurt and Duvall, the likeness of familial hierarchy they wear so naturally.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The characters were fleshed out and I felt the pain and joy of each one. The attention to detail as far as representing 1969 gave me a flashback. I have always loved the leads, Robert Duvall, Kevin Bacon and Billy Bob Thornton, but I think this was an exceptional portrayal by each person. The Brits, John Hurt and his children were also played with such passion. The statement this movie made about war and marijuana use were not in your face, but makes you think and that is not a bad thing. The music was exceptionally well made. Set in a beautiful home and beautiful scenery did not hurt in any way!

I watched this DVD this afternoon, expecting not much and becoming glued to the whole thing. The characters were drawn perfectly, and we saw the characters of the American family drawn carefully for us before we met the English family. (I did wonder what would have happened, had the English family not spoken with such pristine middle class accents, but that's silly, no American woman would fall for anything less.) There is a touch of farce, some neurosis and some age-old baggage to be sorted before the film ends, touchingly and with horror written on the face of the father in question. It's not a blockbuster, and it's not full of hysterical dramas, but it did put me in mind of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and not purely because of the accents - the taught drama spinning away behind the pleasant and civilised dialogue. Excellent all round.

Review: For some unknown reason, I really couldn't get into this film. It starts off well and the concept was great, but the director failed on the execution. It seemed to drag after a while, but I liked the various characters who all had there own personal issues. My expectations of the film was quite high because of the cast, but once that the whole family starts getting on, it turns a bit boring. With John Hurt, Robert Duvall, Billy Bob Thornton and Kevin Bacon, the director should have made use of the A Listers. Round-Up: Judging by the money that this movie made, it's obvious that I wasn't alone with the fact that this film just wasn't what it could have been. It's not that all of the actors and actresses didn't put in a good performance, it's just that it seemed like the storyline dried up after a while. The chemistry between the characters was quite interesting to watch, especially Duvall & Hurt who were great together and I loved the scene when Duvall was tripping in the woods, but nothing else really stood out in the movie for me. Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $15,000 (Terrible!) I recommend this movie to people who are into there family dramas set in the 1960's who are drawn together by under unusual circumstances. 3/10