Page 22 - The Jewish Voice - August '24

Page 22, The Jewish Voice
Arts & Entertainment from page 20
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skills, John’ s
trauma and shock
Film Review: “Don’t Worry: are palpable. The
initial treatment by
He Won’t Get Far on Foot” much of the hospital
staff is insufficiently
By Nils A. Shapiro caring, except for
Trust me on this one. If, like me, at some point in the a beautiful visiting
first half hour or so of this film you feel like turning it volunteer (played by
off as being rather depressing, don’t do it! Rooney Mara) who
Resist that urge and you will be rewarded with one of spoon feeds him and
the most brilliant acting performances and emotional screen understands that a
stories you will have experienced in a long time, to be then little kiss will make
told in the closing credits (forgive this spoiler) that it is all him feel human.
based on a true memoir by the man who lived it! When John is
The highly respected director Gus Van Sant adapted provided with an
that memoir into the screenplay for this 2018 film electric wheelchair whose movements and direction he can
streaming on Amazon Prime Video. After viewing control with his fingers, his world widens: He can travel
Joaquin Phoenix’s extraordinary performance in the lead around the hospital and even go outdoors. Recognizing
role I had to do some research to learn why he failed to win the reason for his disastrous situation he decides to join
the Academy Award that year. It went to Rami Malek for a group in Alcoholics Anonymous to straighten out his
playing Freddie Mercury in American Rhapsody. (Joaquin life. The group leader, portrayed by Jonah Hill, takes a
Phoenix throughout his career has won one Academy special interest in guiding John through AA’s established
Award, one British Academy Film Award, two Golden process.
Globe Awards, one Grammy—having been nominated for We learn that John’s mother had turned him over for
13 of those—in addition to having been nominated for adoption when he was a young boy and he has never
no fewer than 105 other U.S. and international festival overcome the sadness and feeling of loss of self-worth
acting awards and taking top honors 28 times!) caused by that decision.
We meet him here in the opening scene as John That is the turning point in the film, for it led the
Callahan, onstage as a recovered alcoholic receiving an real John Callahan–who is able to use his hands—to
award before an audience to whom he is telling the story become an accomplished cartoonist whose work you
we are about to witness. will instantly recognize from newspapers and popular
The flashback begins at a party where Jack and his national magazines—and whose humor, while definitely
friend (played by Jack Black), already having had too funny and clever, is often considered somewhat risqué
much to drink, decide to make a real night of it. After and even the object of complaints from certain social and
stops at an amusement park and a strip club, imbibing religious groups.
even more at each, they pile back into the car for one more Interestingly, although I strongly disagree, because the
stop with his totally besotted friend behind the wheel. As film shows some of these wonderful cartoons, the movie
the car veers from one lane to another, the driver’s eyes itself is listed in the category of “comedy drama” despite
begin to close. He dozes off…and the inevitable 90 mph the fact that the story itself is of a life that can hardly be
crash into a light pole results in them being brought by considered as having any semblance of humor.
emergency ambulance to a hospital. But there is indeed a happy ending to this life, one that
As it turns out, the driver escapes with only minor will reward you for staying with the film as I urged you
bruises and we see no more of him until the very end of the to do at the opening of this review. A successful career as
film. But it is largely through John’s (Joaquin Phoenix’s) a cartoonist…a loving marriage to Annu, caregiver at the
eyes and thoughts that we learn and experience his life hospital who understood what this patient needed at the
from that moment on as a quadriplegic: paralysis of both worst moment of his life…and, as you will discover, the
arms and both legs.
one-word lesson learned from his AA leader that enabled
Through the director’s, actor’s and cinematographer’s John Callahan at last to overcome his life of alcoholism.
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