DOMINICK AND EUGENE
A film review by Jeff Meyer
Copyright 1988 Jeff Meyer
DOMINICK AND EUGENE (United States, 1988)
Director: Robert M. Young Screenwriters: Alvin Sargent and Corey Blechman Cast: Tom Hulce, Ray Liotta, Jamie Lee Curtis, Todd Graff
This, I believe, is a good sign. When a film this good appears this early in the festival, it usually means that, statistically, other good stuff will follow. And DOMINICK AND EUGENE is the best film to appear at the SIFF so far; it's the best film I've seen this year, for that matter. By the time I've written this and posted it, it will be in your local theater, and my one recommendation is GO SEE IT. You will not be disappointed.
The film tells the story of two brothers living together in Pittsburgh. Eugene (Liotta) is an intern at a local hospital; Nicky (Hulce) is a garbageman putting his younger (by 12 minutes) brother through school. Nicky is "slow", a lumbering child who's simple nature and gentleness is endearing to those around him (a family friend tells Eugene that Nicky is "God's child"). When Eugene is offered a chance to study at Stanford, he is torn with the idea of either leaving Nicky on his own, or uprooting him to take him to California. The situation is complicated as he begins a romantic affair with another intern (Curtis, who has an enviable track record for appearing in excellent films). And finally, there is a situation that Nicky stumbles upon that has haunting repercussions to both his and Eugene's past...
I haven't a criticism of this film. Not one. The story unfolds carefully, bringing the audience into the small group of friends; it walks the fine line of sentiment without ever becoming cloying. The dialogue is wonderful -- funny, startling, heartrending. And the acting...this film is an actor's treat. Curtis performs the task (again) of creating an immediately likable character without artifice. Tod Graff, as Nicky's co-worker and (eventually) pal Larry, balances being a jerk and a friend with precision and charm; he underscores Nicky's particular talents, and in the end you realize that Nicky is less intelligent than Larry in only a few areas. I haven't enjoyed this kind of role so much since James Woods played Aldo in EYEWITNESS. Ray Liotta (SOMETHING WILD) is perfect, as a man who is torn between his love for his brother, his fear for their future, and his memories of the past. His performance is the very definition of the word "controlled." In any other film, his work would stand out as phenomenally good; here, he meets and matches the high level of quality seen elsewhere in the film.
Tom Hulce (Mozart in AMADEUS, ECHO PARK), however, is the thing one carries away from DOMINICK AND EUGENE. As Nicky, his performance is...hell, I can't come up with an adjective that won't sound overblown. Inspired to the point of genius. He is be able to be a child, a man (frustrated and courageous) and an innocent concurrently and without a seam. The line between actor and character are never there -- Hulce *is* Nicky, and when he becomes riveting it seems entirely in character. And he is electrifying here -- I can imagine no other actor who could have pulled this role off -- not after viewing Hulce's performance, anyway. There is a scene where the camera stays on Hulce's face for several minutes, inter-cut with scenes that appear from his point-of-view; he says nothing, his face is in shock, and he can not be looked away from. Amazing. There are lines which are every bit as emotionally rending as anything Marlon Brando did in Hulce's mouth. Over the last few years I've come to the conclusion that the Academy Awards are royally fucked, but if Hulce isn't nominated for Best Actor, they need to have their collected membership put out on an iceflow. From where I sit, it seems unlikely that a performance of this caliber will occur over the next year. This surpasses the last stand-out performance I can remember in film (Klaus Maria Brandaeur in MEPHISTO) by a good ways. Hulce's role as Nicky will be a milestone for years to come.
PS: I can't see not enjoying this film as entertainment, so don't be put off by my accolades. This is a movie worth seeing several times over.
LINER NOTES: Hulce, Director Young and producer Marvin Minoff were there afterwards. The level of questions was even poorer than usual ("Hey, Tom, you married?" "Did you become emotionally involved with your character during the filming of DOMINICK AND EUGENE?" Please, if you're ever at a film festival, don't ask people questions just to hear the sound of your voice.) The film should be in the theaters when I write this (saw the Film Festival showing last week) -- wish I could have gotten it out sooner, but...
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
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