Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2002)

So much average

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

This film uses similar structure to more recent films, such as "Crash" (not as good) and "Tales of the City" (excellent). It is basically like the "three degrees of separation" idea, in that people, whether they intend to or not, have an affect on others, and their actions resonate in unpredictable ways.Clea Duvall is "Bea" who along with her girlfriend run a house-cleaning service in NYC. She and her friend are barely surviving on wages, while they reflect on those whose expensive apartments and penthouses they clean. Bea develops a crush on an architect which comes to bear later in the story.The academics, is the second category here. John Turturro as Professor Walker, a brilliant, yet suppressed physics professor. He has an affair and his wife (well-portrayed by Amy Irving) becomes fed up.The attorneys, third segment of story, encompasses Matthew McConaughey as "Troy", a slick and successful Assistant D.A. who at first is arrogant, self-assured, and impermeable to life. He thinks, until he is affected by a random accident.The insurance adjusters, another group, and the more amusing segment. Sardonic Alan Arkin again delivers as "Gene", running a department for 20-30 years, hating his job and resenting those who "whistle while they work". He is redeemed as a character however, in that he tries to be a good father, has been through an ego-deflating divorce, and bails his son, an addict, out of prison time and again. Frankie Faison is also a good character here, as "Dick Lacey" another part of Arkin's group who sees the pointlessness of the insurance profession.Each character in one way or another affects the other. Like ripples, subtly. Professor Walker, realizing the futility of the affair, questions one of his students why he wants to be a doctor. This leads to later results, which I won't divulge.Arkin fires a man he at first resents, then pities. Bea (Duvall) at first a happy rather naive character, changes after an accident. Troy (McConaughey) at first denies his reality, then comes to terms with it under a stark realization.This film, written by Jill Sprecher and her sister was written after she in real life, had an injury resulting from an accident. It is an interesting and human story. This is also in the rare category of films which the story will stay with you. You will recall its theme, as it comes through in day-to day life."The mind is its own place, it can make heaven of hell, or hell heaven" (Milton) Highly recommended. 10/10

Although this movie is filled with a cast of Hollywood personalities, it is a movie that is not made enough of in Hollywood. Imagine a Hollywood film about people pursuing happiness, but never finding it (nor understanding it). I liked this film, because it was an honest film that touched on real life in some effective ways. Alan Arkin's character is interesting, because he is a shrewd, manipulative advertising agency manager who fires an employee because he is jealous of the employees always looking happy no matter what. Arkin's character is very cynical, and practical to the point that he has alienated everyone in his life. Clea Duvall becomes very depressed and cynical after an accident. Her strength of positive personality has made people depend upon her for friendship. However, her inability to cope with the consequences of her accident alienates people. It is a drastic change in personality. Turturro plays a math professor, who is so obsessed with mathematical rationality that he can't be a human being. I suppose the weakest story was that of McConnaughey's lawyer. It wasn't very clear what happened. He appeared to hit someone with his car who was already dead. This leads him to feel guilt about being the prosecuting attorney, because he runs away from the scene (and then his boss, not knowing about his involvement, happens to assign him the case for prosecution for this very mysterious death that he is indirectly involved with). I thought that story was a little weakly done. It would have been better if it was like in Bonfire Of The Vanities, where there is a direct involvement in the incident. All in all, this is an enjoyable film, because it does something that few Hollywood films reflect upon in any way - real life. The movie does make you think. While not a perfect movie by any means, I learned something from the Clea Duvall (related to Shelly or Robert?) character. People seek friendship in people who appear to be a source of strength and positiveness.

It's always pleasing to unexpectedly stumble across an intelligent and thought-provoking film such as this. Essentially a study on both the fickle nature of happiness and our (mis)understanding of it, and of the random manner in which complete strangers can alter the path of a person's life with neither being aware of the fact, 13 Conversations interweaves the tales of a handful of characters with deceptive ease and no little skill. Not only does the film smoothly pull all the strands together, it also does so by telling a tale that is not chronologically linear, but which overlaps in the same way that its characters' lives overlaps.Perhaps the only flaw is that a disproportionate amount of screen time is given to Alan Arkin's character at a cost to the others. John Turturro's professor and Matthew McConnaughy's yuppie lawyer in particular seem to be the casualties of this, but it has to be said that Arkin gives a masterful performance and carries his part of the film with ease. The dialogue is sometimes a little too clever for its own good – we get a sense of people making speeches to each other rather than holding conversations on occasion – but, having said that, what the characters have to see is always interesting and absorbing. A very good film, worthy of its high rating.

Without counting the actual number, I am sure there were at least 13 conversations in this intriguing collection of character studies. It doesn't become clear until very late in the film that about 2 years are elapsing in the story line. The "one thing" (believe it or not) isn't sex, but happiness. The questions "why are we here" and "is this all there is" come up frequently. What makes life worth living? Is happiness a gift, or can it be acquired? Several characters experience ups and downs, while some seem chronically malcontent or skeptical. The ones who boast about having achieved greatness in their work soon become to doubt their accomplishments, while others are desperate to find a way to regain the joys they once knew. Coming to terms with mistakes made, as well as showing remorse for wrongs committed against others, each in their own way must conquer this one "thing".Along with effective acting from the entire cast, there are many other reasons why a film buff would enjoy this movie. Several brilliant camera shots, done in a mysterious stand-out color-scheme, are perfectly intermingled with the story to show reflection, a sense of deep thought. Outstanding editing, connecting separate scenes into a common idea, is clearly superior to most films.The sum of these characters spell out pessimism and gloom. Look for the middle-aged man with that undying optimism who has many scenes. When all others insist life is one big disappointment, this little guy will assure you that it really is just a bowl of cherries. We need more smiling optimists, and more films with that important message.