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Thursday, December 23, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
And Everything Is Going Fine
Top Of The Morning, Hello
And Good Night. I'm Back.
Spalding Gray during one of his monologues, in Steven Soderbergh's new
documentary "And Everything Is Going Fine".
IFC Films
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Thursday,
December 23, 2010
"And Everything Is Going Fine" is just fine all by itself as a documentary about
the enigmatic, energizing stream-of-consciousness storyteller, actor and
playwright Spalding Gray, one of America's most unique artists and entertainers.
Steven Soderbergh's film stays very true to the late Mr. Gray's voice, with
Susan Littenberg's editing as its most indispensible asset. The
documentary, which debuted back in January at the annual Slamdance Film
Festival, is now playing exclusively at the IFC Center in New York City through
next Tuesday.
Comprised of a medley of clips from hundreds of hours of Mr. Gray's interviews,
performances and public appearances, "And Everything" achieves a cadence that
becomes Mr. Gray's voice. That's self-evident of course, but the editing
is executed in practically the very style that the late performer spoke in.
Mr. Gray was found dead in the East River in Manhattan after an apparent suicide
in 2004. He had attempted suicide two years before. His mother
committed suicide in the 1960s.
In "And Everything" Mr. Gray talks about fictional and factual things in his
life and work, with a storytelling style that is immersive and fascinating.
His style is at once even keel and animated. A classic
art-imitates-life-imitates art thinker and monologuer, Mr. Gray remains a figure
ahead of his time, and his illustrious résume, including his many films -- one
of them "King Of The Hill", which Mr. Soderbergh directed -- stands the test of
time.
The multi-talented Spalding Gray was as much a spoken word poet genius as Beat
poet Allen Ginsberg was, or as spoken-word artist/musician Gil Scott-Heron still
is. I think of the cadences and intonations of Mr. Ginsberg and Mr. Heron,
and compare Mr. Gray's rhythms, insights and histrionics favorably. With
"And Everything Is Going Fine" I was riveted watching Mr. Gray, whose work I'd
seen only a little of previously.
Audiences unfamiliar with Mr. Gray may be surprised by the way Mr. Soderbergh's
unvarnished documentary accumulatively delves into the viewer's mind, as well as
the psyche of Mr. Gray. It's as much a great work of art as Mr. Gray's
body of work was. Purely illuminating and mesmerizing. Rumors are
that Mr. Soderbergh is contemplating retirement from his craft. He
reportedly has three other films in the works, including the ensemble drama
"Contagion" and the biopic "Liberace". The gem that is "And Everything Is
Going Fine" displays the continuing versatility of Mr. Soderbergh's thoroughly
impressive filmmaking talent.
Now playing exclusively at the
IFC Center in Manhattan through
Tuesday, December 28.
"And Everything Is Going Fine" is not rated by the Motion Picture Association Of
America. It contains crude, foul language and descriptions of sexual acts
and violence. The film's running time is one hour and 29 minutes.
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