Manglehorn has a familiar plot
structure, one which is not too far off from similar roles that Al Pacino has
played recently (especially Danny Collins),
but the sincerity in the material and his performance swept me up and allowed
me to forgive any shortcomings in storytelling. Director David Gordon Green
applies his type of unsentimental honesty to the familiar narrative, which is
what made him a force in the world of independent cinema early in his career
with films like George Washington and
All the Real Girls. It is refreshing
to find that both Pacino and Green returning to the type of art which showcases
the talent which made them famous in the first place, and Manglehorn is easily the best thing either has done in years.
In terms of the
basic setup, Manglehorn is another typical narrative about a lonely older man
learning how to find happiness again. Al Pacino stars as A.J. Manglehorn, a
reclusive locksmith with a sick cat and few human companions. His relationship
with his son (Chris Messina) is fraught and inconsistent, leaving Manglehorn
with only his daily interactions and casual friendships. He only truly seems to
open up to a lost love from his past named Clara, who he writes letters to
regularly. When he enters into a casual friendship with a kind bank teller
(Holly Hunter), Manglehorn is forced to make a decision about how he plans to
live the remainder of his life.
Green stylistic
approach to the material seems a direct response to the familiar narrative. Even
though the storyline was similar to other films, the unique way that it was
presented made Manglehorn a fantastically original experience. Though his
career has had highs (Pineapple Express)
and lows (The Sitter) in Hollywood
The special
features only include a trailer, which is somewhat disappointing. Because so
much of Green’s storytelling is visual, it would have been fantastic to hear
his commentary about each decision. Additional insight is always welcome,
especially with a filmmaker as deliberate as he has proven to be. The high
definition of the Blu-ray disc is not necessary, though it doesn’t hurt the
stylized approach of filmmaking.
Entertainment Value:
8/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 8.5/10
Historical
Significance: 6.5/10
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