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The Majestic - 12/21/01 - PG - 152m
Jim Carrey -
Peter/Luke
Laurie Holden - Adele
Martin Landau - Harry
Director: Frank Darabont
Writer: Michael Sloane
JEF
DVD Review -
Like listening to your grandfather re-tell a good story…
I had missed this movie when it came around to the theatres last year,
but it was one that was on my list to see. First off, I must confess,
this isn’t really a DVD review. I saw this movie on HBO last night,
so I am unable to provide a review regarding the DVD extras.
Storyline: Note: Minor Spoilers
below, but it doesn’t matter too much…
Jim Carrey plays the part of Peter Appleton a B-movie screenwriter. After
releasing a new movie, and his career is just about to take off, he’s
named as a possible communist during the time when the McCarthy Hearings
(1951) are taking place. Suddenly his career comes to a screeching halt
as he’s faced with becoming blacklisted. One evening he has a few
drinks too many and takes off for a drive. He’s involved in a car
crash, and awakes on a beach in California with Amnesia. With a Hollywood
twist it just so happens that he looks identical to a young man (Luke
Trimbal) who was Missing In Action in the war for some 9 1/2 years. His
Father Harry Trimbal, (Martin Landau) is of course thrilled to see him
back, and takes him into his apartment above a falling down movie theatre
called “The Majestic”. The rest of the movie is about how
the entire town is overwhelmed with the return of one of their sons from
the war. Many of the townspeople had lost sons in the war, and to have
one return under such odd circumstances was like a blessing. The movie
spends most of the time exploring the way the town trys to trigger his
memory by asking him to recall all the events that made him somewhat of
a town hero.
The movie towards the end takes an interesting twist and takes a brief
look at what it meant to be an American during the “McCarthy Trials”.
Now, I must say, not one thing in this movie came to me as a surprise
in regards to the plot. You could foresee everything. This usually annoys
me, but for some reason it didn’t with this movie. It was like listening
to a story from your Grandfather that you’ve heard a hundred times
before, but because of the way it’s told, and because it’s
a good story you sit and listen. I enjoyed everyone’s acting jobs.
Jim Carrey did a great job. He’s one of the few comedians who is
able to play a serious role and make it believable. Laurie Holden did
a great job playing the role of his girlfriend – She looked so 50’s
too.
I mentioned the bit about the McCarthy Hearings… The speeches and
commentary provided on what it meant to be an American was very well done.
In today’s troubled times as America sits on the brink of war, it
makes you appreciate and honor those men and women who dedicate themselves
to this country.
All in all, this was an enjoyable movie. If you don’t get to see
this movie on HBO, I’d say it’s still worth the $4 to rent.
Jef