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Directed by Written by Starring Presented by Rated R 82
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EDMOND
Review
In many ways, we feel that we are in a place that we do not belong, wondering our existence in life, and afraid to do anything about it. There has always been the moment where one night defines a character in the direction they will go for the rest of their lives. It’s a moment any of us will have. In the case of EDMOND, it’s a dark display of sex and violence that leads to a midlife crisis of the worst kind. EDMOND is based on a one act play written by acclaimed playwright David Mamet when he was as he puts it “the darkest reaches of his soul” and is brought mesmerizingly to life by director Stuart Gordon, best known for RE-ANIMATOR, and by star William H. Macy, who plays Edmond with such a stark conviction. The film begins when Edmond, a mild mannered, middle aged man looking for reason in his life, visits a fortune teller who tells him “You do not belong here.” The words strike a chord in him as he goes home to tell his wife (Mamet’s wife Rebecca Pidgeon) that he doesn’t love her anymore. Feeling somewhat rejuvenated, he decides to go out in the New York City nightlife of 1983 (when the play was written) for sex and a purpose for his existence. His encounters take him to the seedy underbelly of New York, rife with sex and violence. His reactions to the ugliness around him prompt him to react in such an aggressive way, and when he finally does find someone who connects with him, he ends it on one of the most unsettling scenes I’ve witnessed in quite a while. This is a very unsettling, brutal film to watch, one of the most difficult I’ve had to endure in quite a while, due primarily to the stern brutality and realism of the film. The origins of the stage are present throughout the film but Gordon makes good use of set pieces and visuals that it flows very quickly for its 82 minute run time. It’s an honest film that shows how quickly we can be forced to acts of aggression and Gordon, known for over the top gore in his earlier films, films one of the most disturbing scenes he’s ever filmed when Edmond commits a murder. The way it is done was a little like PSYCHO, where there’s not much seen but you feel like you’ve seen it all, just the swipe of a knife and Edmond’s body splattered with blood is enough, but it’s also the raw emotion Macy delivers as Edmond in his pleasure of committing the act following quickly by the harsh reality of what he has just done. Once he is arrested for the crime, the rest of the film is him in prison, where he takes to his cellmate (Bokeem Woodbine) and forms an unusual bond. The film’s climatic scene eerily shows the fate of Edmond as he is pretty much back where he was at the beginning, finding purpose in life while gaining satisfaction for false reasons. William H. Macy is one of the best character actors of our time, and gives such a brave performance that it’s easily one of his best performances that due to the nature of the film you’ll probably won’t see. It’s a shame because he deserves an Oscar for sure. His one nomination is not enough if you ask me. While Macy is in every scene, the rest of the cast only appear in one or two scenes, and what a cast it is. Mamet regular Joe Mantegna has a terrific but racially offensive scene where he talks about his disdain for the race, which really sets Edmond off on his night of rebellion. Denise Richards is actually in fine form as a stripper who offers to service Edmond, but for a hefty price. Mena Suvari, in a black wig, plays a high priced call girl that Edmond wants but can’t afford. Dule Hill from THE WEST WING and PSYCH has a good role as a street hustler who cons Edmond out of fifty bucks and reacts violently when Edmond objects. Rebecca Pidgeon, always a Mamet staple, plays Edmond’s wife with a sad yet cruel conviction that you can see that when Edmond says he doesn’t love her anymore, she reacts as if she knew it all along. Julia Stiles has a very small and pivotal role as a waitress who takes to Edmond, only to realize her mistake too little too late. I’ve always had a great admiration for the writing of David Mamet. GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS is considered a modern masterpiece and one of my favorite thrillers is his 1987 HOUSE OF GAMES, a superb psychological study of the gift of the con. This was one of his earlier plays and to see it given the light of day now shows a much darker side of Mamet’s personality, one that Gordon was perfect to adapt. In all, EDMOND is a superb independent film directed by one of the horror genre’s great living directors, written by one of our greatest living American writers, and starring one of the best character actors of our time, and all three do their job splendidly. You owe it to yourself to see this film as a true breakdown of a fragile soul. EDMOND: 9 Out Of 10 Maggots CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR STUART GORDON
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