- Actors: Rhys Ifans, Juno Temple
- Director: Tim Godsall
- Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
- Language: English
- Subtitles: Spanish
- Region: Region 1
- Number of discs: 1
- Rated: Unrated
- Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
- DVD Release Date: October 11, 2016
- Run Time: 100 minutes
There are
several tired formulas in Len &
Company, all swimming around the same film like a cesspool of
indi-filmmaking clichés. There is absolutely no reason any of it should work on
paper, but somehow manages to obtain a level of sincerity through casting. The
actors embody the roles so wholly that it makes the lack of narrative within
the film an asset rather than a flaw, and the dedication from the cast makes Len & Company an enjoyable, albeit
familiar, ride.
Al Pacino and Meryl
Streep are only two of the many actors who have recently played an aging rock
star trying to reconnect with their offspring after living selfishly for many
years. Rhys Ifans adds himself to that list as Len, a punk rocker who is
constantly worried about the fact that he has become sanitized by success. This
makes him a bitter and difficult person to be around, but his company is
exactly what is desired by his son, Max (Jack Kilmer). Hoping to receive advice
from his successful father on how to start his own music career, Max
idealistically surprises his father with a visit and his demo tape.
Len has
retreated to his country home to avoid people, which he makes quite apparent in
his treatment of the surprise guest. To his obvious annoyance, Max is followed
by pop star Zoe (Juno
Temple), who tracks Len
down after he publicly dismisses the success that her career has had while
collaborating with him. These three musicians mark various points along the
journey in a life lived for rock n’ roll, though the film doesn’t have much to
say about the artistic process or success. Mostly, this is just a film about
these specific characters, with no larger statements or themes made apparent by
the dialogue.
Although the
repairing of a relationship between father and son has been a staple theme in
independent and mainstream filmmaking alike, it is the delay in sentimental
behavior which makes Len & Company
stand apart, if only slightly. The narrative goes down the predictable path of
repaired relationships through character maturation, but it handles it with
minor changes rather than a complete reversal. This subtlety allows for the
film to follow the predictable narrative structure without completely losing
the character’s signature flippancy. It ends up exactly where I had predicted
it would within the first five minutes, but the journey getting there was more
enjoyable than I originally anticipated.
The DVD for Len & Company doesn’t have special
features.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 0/10
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