Wednesday, September
23, 2009
MOVIE REVIEW
Irene In Time
Andrew Leeds and Tanna Frederick, who plays the title character
in Henry Jaglom's "Irene In Time", which opened in
Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, New York today. (Photo: Rainbow Films)
A Daughter's Longing For Daddy
Dearest
By
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Henry Jaglom's new film "Irene In Time", which today opened in Manhattan at the
Quad Cinema and several other New York theaters, chronicles the agonies and
frustrations of Irene's (Tanna Frederick) relationships with men. Irene
tries to find the right man, but that endeavor isn't easy. The man she
truly loves is the one who has departed the earth: her father.
Regrettably, Mr. Jaglom's personal film is undone by almost all of what precedes
its very end. The film for much of its time has ambled along a rocky road
if not choppy waters. This is due mainly to Mr. Jaglom's screenplay, which
weaves through a series of interactions, many of which are shot cinema vérité
style but to a point where disinterest and irritation creep in. Much of
the lethargy is also down to subpar acting by Ms. Frederick, whom despite
lending earnestness, idealism and gentility to Irene doesn't penetrate beyond
the film's surface to the audience, which may actually be Mr. Jaglom's point:
that Irene is lost without a father figure.
There are a few positives in "Irene In Time" however, and those are found in
good performances from Andrea Marcovicci and Victoria Tennant, whose characters
are the bearers of secrets. Lanré Idewu, a newcomer to American film,
features as a charismatic man who looks like the one for Irene. Ms.
Frederick and Mr. Idewu have a chemistry that feels right but is not showcased
long enough for the audience to invest in their naturalness.
Mr. Jaglom has been a master in the American independent cinema realm for years
now, and with work like the insightful documentary "Eating" and other films he's
made his mark. With "Irene In Time" however, which features good music
from the Harriet Schock Choir -- Irene gets her strength and inspiration as a
member of it -- the director appears to be drifting slowly through the sands of
an hourglass.
With: Karen Black, Adam Davidson, Kelly DeSarla, Sabrina Jaglom, Simon O. Jaglom,
Andrew Leeds, Rob Mathes, Jack Maxwell, Zack Norman, David Proval and Reni
Santoni.
"Irene In Time" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association Of America
for thematic elements and some sexual content. The film's running time is
one hour and 35 minutes.
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