Critique: Two Family House is a beautiful, intricate, and sensitive film. Micheal Rispoli deliveres one of the very best performances of 2000, and his supporting cast keeps up with him. This an incredibally smart, and moving study of a good man. It's one of the 10 best films of 2000 because of its beauty. This is the kind of wonderful indepedent film that You Can Count on Me (a good, but overrated film in my opinion) should have been. It is so real, and so close that you can feel the characters plights deeply. The score by Stephen Endelman is subtle, but beautiful. Also, the cinemtography by Michael Mayers is intimate, helping the film to be as touching as it is. The direction by Raymond De Felitta is outstanding, he gives us warmth and passion on film. The writing, also by De Felitta, is smart and courageous. Everything about this film is just right. The only small flaw is it begins a little slowly, but if you're patient it will take off. It will move you, and make you think.
Rispoli's performance is so good because he not only fits right inside his character in the story, but he displays so many churning emotions in his ever changing face. He is your average guy, not particularly attractive, or tall (as best as I could tell), or big. He's one of us, he could be my friend, or anybody's friend. He helps us connect to the story, as he is at the center of everything in the film. Kelly MacDonald also brings warmth to her character, and Kathrine Narducci is great as the exact opposite. Narducci is very cold, even when she tries to reach understand her husband her weakness is only highlighted. The supporting cast all act so real, helping the brilliant script give more texture to these fascinating characters. The ending is something you probably have seen before, but it is polished with care and intelligence. Thus, the film has a wonderful last taste in your mouth. I hope to see De Felitta and Rispoli again in whatever their respective next projects might be.
Two Family House is an intimate, touching little story. It may not be great because it is never ambitious enough, and it isn't so well done that it's a new classic. But, these are not complaints, so much as explanations, as Two Family House is a very nice, extraordinarily pleasant film.
review by supernothingman |
