|
|
|
| Order Lantana |
|
The film opens as the camera slowly passes over and then through a large patch of lantana to reveal the body of a dead woman. With this opening, one is setup for a murder mystery. However, this adult film takes us through a labyrinth of criss-crossing and mysterious relationships long before the murder mystery begins. (Yes, I said "adult film", but not from the "XXX" mold. This Australian film is for grown-ups and is about grown-up feelings and failings.) Director Ray Lawrence takes his time as he introduces us to the characters from Andrew Bovell's play "Speaking in Tongues" (working along with Lawrence and producer Jan Champion also developed the screenplay). We first discover Leon Zat (Anthony LaPaglia - "The House of Mirth", "Sweet and Lowdown", and "Trees Lounge") engaged in a sexual tryst with Jane (Rachael Blake). However, Leon has a family and is married to Sonja (Kerry Armstrong). Sonja is concerned about the ever-growing distance in her relationship with her husband and seeks the aide of therapist Dr. Valerie Somers (Barbara Hershey - "Hannah and Her Sisters", "The Right Stuff", and "The Stunt Man"). Valerie is also counseling a homosexual patient who is having an affair with a married man. His aggressive attitude pushes some of Valerie's buttons and we are led to wonder if this married man could be her husband, John Knox (Geoffrey Rush - "Shakespeare in Love", "Quills", and "Elizabeth"). Valerie and John's relationship is strained due to the tragic murder of their only daughter. More paths cross when Sonja (Armstrong) meets her husband's lover at a Latin dance class and Leon (LaPaglia) bumps into Jane's estranged husband, Pete, on the street and in a bar. We are also introduced to Paula and Nik Daniels, who may be the most stable of the couples in the film. But even then we are not quite sure, as their young family is threatened by Nik's unemployment and Paula's having to work extra shifts to make ends meet.
Lantana swept all the motion picture actor/actress awards at the 2001 Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards (Australia's Academy Awards). The Australian Film Institute also awarded Ray Lawrence the Best Direction award, Jan Champion the Best Film award, and Andrew Bovell the Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Source award. If you missed this wonderful film during its low-key theatrical release, check it out on DVD. While the pace may be slow for some, this well directed, superbly written, and finely acted film is highly recommended for adult viewers. The DVD
Lions Gate Home Entertainment/Trimark provide a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture with 5.1 Dolby Digital audio.
For those who may be avoiding Lions Gate DVD's due to past experience, give this one a chance. Many of the scenes
take place in the dark or at night and this transfer handles the brightness and contrast well. The colors are bright
and appear natural. The source print is especially clean and only rare flecks or flaws show up. The images are
sharp and well defined. While basically a dialogue driven film, on the rare occasion the atmosphere is well delivered
through the 5.1 audio.
|
| copyright 2002, Michael E. Carver Michael's Movie Mayhem |
Lantana
(lan-´tä-na), an invasive shrub with small, colorful blooms that hides a dense, thorny undergrowth.
This tropical shrub was brought to Australia from Brazil in the mid-1800's, and now infesting over four million
hectares of eastern coastal land.
Only
after the film has slowly and carefully led us on its invasive introduction and we have had the opportunity to
explore the depths of the characters and their struggling relationships, are we presented with the murder mystery
promised in the opening. Valerie (Hershey) goes missing after a minor car accident in the backcountry and accepting
a ride from one of our characters. Leon (LaPaglia) is the police detective assigned to the case. His investigation
brings him back through the tangled web of relationships and characters we experienced during the first part of
the film. As the missing-persons/murder mystery is solved, we are also given an opportunity to solve the mysteries
that surround the many relationships we find ourselves engulfed within.
As
mentioned earlier, this is an adult movie, and it deals deftly with grown-up situations and feelings. It is a tightly
scripted, natural language drama that explores the many mysteries of human relationships. The acting by the ensemble
cast is the main draw of this well crafted film. By the time the main mystery has been solved, the viewer walks
away with a feeling that they truly know, empathize, and grasp the natures of the characters and their dilemmas.