As we are winding down the summer movie season, we can start seeing a bit more of the quality independent films that always need an audience since it is so costly to advertise-- only the large commercial films have a huge budget to spend millions on advertising, and with that we are offered "Juliet, Naked", a low key indie film that shines in a sea of the big-budget film land.
Annie (Rose Byrne) is stuck in a go nowhere long-term relationship with Duncan (Chris O'Dowd)--an obsessive fan of obscure rocker Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke). When the acoustic demo of Tucker's hit record from 25 years ago surfaces, Duncan praises it while Annie does not. In fact, Annie takes a step further and decides to text Tucker to let him know that his demo wasn't great at all. Surprisingly, Tucker, through a series of many texts, agrees with her and subsequently wants to meet her. As he arrives in England, where Annie resides, he ends up having a heart attack and while hospitalized meets her and they strike up a new and different friendship. This demo ends up leading to a life-changing encounter for both Tucker and Annie. Can this once revered, now faded singer-songwriter hold onto this new relationship while trying to save what's left of his dysfunctional life?
Others to round out the cast are Denise Gough as Gina, Lily Newmark as Carly, Nina Sosanya as Natalie, Tucker's ex-wife, Azhy Robertson as Jackson Crowe, Tucker's son, Ayoola Smart as Lizzie Crowe, Tucker's daughter, Jimmy O. Yang as Elliot and Lily Brazier as Ros.
This was quirkily directed by Jesse Peretz ("The Chateau" '01, "The Ex" '06, "Our Idiot Brother" '11) plus TV and video shorts. What feature film experience this filmmaker may be limited in, he more than makes up with the plethora of TV and video shorts. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is crucial, most of the time, that directors, writers, producers, actors and the like 'cut their teeth' of other media before hitting the feature film realm. It can truly make the process that much smoother, and it shows with this guy. He makes the characters these actors are playing come to life on a multi-level basis. It was well executed by writers Evgenia Peretz, Jim Taylor and Tamara Jenkins, based on a novel by Nick Hornby. What interests me is that both Taylor and Jenkins have the lion's share of the experience here, however Peretz's name has top billing. Not sure what that's about, but possibly they are giving Peretz that shot in the arm she could use. I'm sure Peretz was instrumental in the input provided--writing being a collaborative effort, but just food for thought. There were a couple of problems with this, such as a song being played at the beginning of the film while Annie's narrative voice is being said--a bit confusing in that the song was fighting with her narrative, and a couple of slow places--yes slow, even though this was only a 90 minute plus running time. However, with these two issues, it still had a worthy script.
The acting by both Hawke and Byrne is mostly why you are seeing this. Their chemistry was quirky and heartfelt. Sure, the writing and directing was solid, but, at the end of the day, the acting was the showcase. Who knows, could an Oscar nod come knocking? Who knows.
Out of 4 Stars: 3 Rated: R 97mins.
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