Heavy (1996)

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Strong performances and great restraint make Heavy a deftly handled, beautiful and subtly moving piece. Despite the apparent futility of Victor's interest in Callie, they're both changed in ways which are worth seeing. Aside from Evan Dando's slight awkwardness, the acting in this film is understated and very believable - Shelley Winters is warm and careworn, even Debbie Harry manages to blend in to the low-key scenery. Beautifully shot and directed, with a superb score from Thurston Moore, "Heavy" is a piece of cinema rather than a story shoe-horned into a screenplay. This won't satisfy anyone looking for simple plot and resolution, but for the rest of us there's a lot to admire.

Heavy indeed the title to me explained the depth of symbolism this movie had commenced. This movie to my mind shown an example ironically of life's various infatuations. In how the duration of them bloom then wither naturally as time dissolves entirety. The character "Victor" which claimed to be "fat" as compared to his interest "Callie" which of prevailing allure if you will. Considering this at all time, Victor becomes timid quite often. Only wanting the slightest bit of attention as himself besotted by her essence. This film in my opinion illuminates a life of the working class who may never have there dreams come true. Maybe the way they might have wanted. Which apparently can become laceration for this individual. In opposition to this depressing technique for life's let downs. I reside in the words of Friedrich Nietzsche. Which he so ambrosially stated.. "Love to one only is a barbarity, for it is exercised at the expense of all others. Love to God also!"

The most interesting thing about this first movie directed by the now know James Mangold, is that it's a window into what was to come. It has a lot of flaws. It plods along at a sluggish pace, the character of Pruitt Taylor Vince played by Victor Modino is so overly repressed that it's almost painful to watch, and it's all too obviously a low budget film...but there's this big BUT because in spite of the drawbacks it is still a movie that hits you hard emotionally. The loneliness these characters suffer is so real that it becomes the kind of film you remember long after you have watched it. I rented it on DVD when it was first released and then watched it again on cable last night, which only reinforced what I had already concluded. It's a movie worth a look. There's a very sympathetic role in here from a young unknown Liv Tyler. And the Shelly Winters character is in a class all by herself. She was perfectly cast as the dreadfully overbearing and controlling mother. It's a hopeful start from a director I assume will work for many years to come. He has an undeniable talent for bringing out the reality of human emotions. Bringing me to mind of his later masterful film 'Girl, Interrupted' (1999). This director has willingly tackled a wide range of material. After 'Heavy' came' Identity' (2003), a solid who-done-it, and 'Kate & Leopold' (2001),which in all fairness I can not judge because I watched it on an airplane. My take on James Mangold is this...I am looking forward ( to his next two movies which are currently in production) and to a continuing career from a director who exhibits a lot of promise, especially when he strays outside the box.

Yeah this movie *was* a bit wierd... I'm not quite sure I can adequately describe it but it was a times a little too 'quiet' for my liking - and often times very dark and sinister (not that that is neccessarily a bad thing.)I suppose if you're a Liv Tyler fan (which I am) I would reccomend this.I'd say it's deffinitely a 'made-for-TV' kinda film...I give it a 2 out of 5 stars