O.K. Garage
[Screened at the Cinequest Film Festival 9, San Jose]
[2.5/4.0]
The O.K. Garage is not a place you would really want to have your car repaired, but Rachel finds this out the hard way when her car breaks down on the way to work. Although the owner cheerfully claims all the work is satisfaction guaranteed, he usually will do practically nothing and still overbill for the work he claims to have performed. Besides this simple petty crime, he is collaborating with bigger mobsters in a scheme to steal the cars of some former customers, which should be easy since he has their addresses and even car keys.
Rachel has a friend, Sean, who is a rather odd character. He is a writer who of late has taken to playing with and carrying around lizards. Although there is an obvious attraction between them, so far their relationship has been platonic. Russell has an acquaintance, Johnny, who is himself a bit odd. He refuses to deposit his paychecks because he is attracted to a bank teller, but is so shy about it that he cannot get himself to go to the bank. This is basically the story of these three characters, brought together when Rachel seeks Sean's and Johnny's help in recovering her money.
Writer and director Brandon Cole confesses that he provided very little direction and let the actors interpret the characters; Lili Taylor as Rachel, John Turturro as Johnny, and Will Patton as Sean. The strength of the film are the performances of Taylor and Turturro. Taylor is particular strong as Rachel. The way she actually stomps up stairs reflects the confidence and pluck (and attractiveness) of the character. Turturro is also good as Johnny, but the character is often uneven, due mainly to the writing rather than Turturro's performance. However, Patton was rather grating as the odd Russell. With a constant wry smile and vacuous expression, he appeared to be rigidly forcing his performance as a stereotypical eccentric, rather than allowing the character have a natural flow. Having heard Cole speak before and after the film, it appears that Patton based his portrayal of Sean on the style and demeanor of Cole, but the character would have been better with more definition.
The subplot of the garage owner's relationship with the mobsters injects some life into the story. The developing romance between Johnny and Rachel is telegraphed early and feels slightly forced, but it is not dwelled upon so it is not objectionable. Ultimately the story feels as if Cole is trying to communicate a larger point, but fails.
Marginally Recommended. There are good performances, but the writing was rather empty. It is entertaining, but quite uncompelling.
(c) 1999 Murali Krishnan The Art House Squatter http://pages.hotbot.com/movies/murali24/
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