Post by StevePulaski on Jan 1, 2017 13:32:39 GMT -5
Rainbow Time (2016)
Directed by: Linas Phillips
Directed by: Linas Phillips
Linas Phillips in Rainbow Time.
Rating: ★★★½
Linas Phillips, in his second feature-length directorial effort since Bass Ackwards in 2010, plays Shonzi, a developmentally delayed man in his forties who lives with his father. He spends most of his days cooped up in his room making his own film "Rainbow Time" or having his makeshift dolls imitate sexual intercourse. He does the former because he believes it will lead to doing what he can make his dolls so effortlessly do, and he does the latter because he himself knows it's highly unlikely he'll be able to do that any time soon.
In order to successfully make his movie, Shonzi enlists in the help of his brother Todd (Timm Sharp) and his current girlfriend Lindsay (Melanie Lynskey) to shoot scenes for his movie, when in reality, he simply wants interaction with one of the few women guaranteed to give him any. Lindsay is close to finalizing her divorce with her husband (Jay Duplass, whose production company, "Duplass Brothers Productions," helped produce and distribute this film), and has been seeing Todd since the process commenced. Todd recognizes his brother's disability, but is partly overwhelmed with guilt and just general contempt for his brother's loquacious ways always working to get himself and others into trouble and manifesting into an embarrassing turn of events.
Shortly after they come over to spend a few days, Shonzi and Todd's father winds up in the hospital, resulting in Todd having to take in Shonzi to live with him and Lindsay for the time being. During this time, Shonzi does all he can to get closer to Lindsay, especially as Lindsay encourages him to be a part of her documentary on catcalling and the disrespectful treatment of women on a daily basis. Todd is disgusted by all of this.
I haven't kept up with the mumblecore genre in film - if that's even what we're still calling it - as explicitly as I did from 2012 to 2014, but Rainbow Time tells me little has changed and that's a good thing. The genre is still heavily bent on natural conversations emerging from very realistic situations, all performed by actors with a great sense of character while performing dialog and being directed by people with a grasp on relationships. This film tells the story not only of the well-meaning but very burdensome family member but also has commendable undertones of contemporary feminism in a way that's woven well into the story.
While succumbing to his worst tendencies - like talking way too much and way too often on top of his objectification of women - Shonzi is reprimanded and more-or-less coached by Lindsay, who calls out his treatment of women instead of saying he's doing something wrong and leaving it at that. Part of the reason Shonzi continues to do this is likely because, throughout his entire life, he's just been told "no" by able people who neglected to explain to him in a personal or empathetic manner why his treatment towards women is quite frequently ghastly. When Lindsay enters his life, he's finally given answers after ostensibly doing the wrong thing for decades.
This isn't brilliant nor groundbreaking, but it's a formidable way to highlight and deal with male wrongdoing in a way that's meaningful without being alienating. It also helps that the cast of character actors here are strong and convincing, with Phillips, who also serves as writer and producer, being the standout in a challenging but tender performance. Lynskey, who I've loved ever since since seeing her in Joe Swanberg's Happy Christmas and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World before that, is her lovely and sympathetic self, playing a character caught between a rock and a hard place, but strong enough to tooth and claw her way out when left with her wits. And in efforts to be inclusive, I'll add Timm Sharp is also very good, especially during moments that require him to be honest with his actions and behavior.
Rainbow Time is frequently funny, but we're never laughing at anyone, which is very important given how Shonzi and his actions could've easily been the concluding punchline for many of the scenes in this film. Phillips is smarter than that, however, and instead crafts a film that's respectful and wise regarding the treatment of women in addition to drawing a complex character like Shonzi in an equally respectful light. Many films have been made about "that" family member or someone in our lives we can't live with nor without. Few have been as smart of as compelling in a natural sense as this one.
Starring: Linas Phillips, Timm Sharp, Melanie Lynskey, Tobin Bell, and Jay Duplass. Directed by: Linas Phillips.