A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Evening

Date Viewed: 7/7/07

Details:

Claire Danes (Young Ann)

Toni Collette (Nina)

Vanessa Redgrave (Ann Grant Lord)

Patrick Wilson (Harris Arden)

Hugh Dancy (Buddy Wittenborn)

Natasha Richardson (Constance Lord)

Mamie Gummer (Young Lila Wittenborn)

Eileen Atkins

Meryl Streep (Lila Wittenborn)

Glenn Close (Mrs. Wittenborn)

Director: Lajos Koltai

Score: +

The Review: Quiet period drama, focusing on the Newport RI summer scene in the late 1950's from the backward perspective of one of the participants now trapped in a form of Alzheimer's on her deathbed. Some of the plot might prove a little difficult to unscramble, mixed up as it is between current reality, past retrospective and occasional segments not so easily classified, that may be fantasy or may not be. The two major threads of past & present are individually easy to follow, even if the cuts between them are occasionally hard to track.

Excellent (and large) ensemble cast in both time periods, and some enthralling imagery -- the opening and closing scenes in particular. Seldom has a cinematographer captured the contrast & colors of low-angle stormlight as effectively as in the first few frames, which may or may not represent a dreamscape.

Casting did an excellent job of matching facial physiognomy and body type across the generations portrayed: Gummer (young Lila) is the spitting image of a very young Streep (elder Lila); although the match for Danes (young Ann) and Redgrave (elder Ann) is not quite as obvious.

From Susan Minot's novel.

(21-Jul-07)

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