Splendor ***
rated R Samuel Goldwyn Films 93 minutes starring Kathleen Robertson, Johnathon Schaech, Matt Keeslar, Kelly MacDonald, Eric Mabius written and directed by Gregg Araki
Gregg Araki is best known as the writer/director of the `Teen Apocalypse Trilogy'; three films (`The Living End', `The Doom Generation' and `Nowhere') which predicted the end of life as we know it. Araki, who usually lets his style undermine his substance, quietly triumphs with `Splendor', an upbeat, sparkling comedy about a woman trying to make her menage a trois relationship work.
The plotline and mood of `Splendor' are a refreshing change from the over the top nihilism of Araki's first few films, but it still features his best asset: his colorful, inventive portrayal of Los Angeles in the not too distant future.
Kathleen Robertson, a former `Beverly Hills, 90210' beauty who was discovered by Araki for `Nowhere', plays the twenty-ish Veronica with a perfect mixture of sweetness, vulnerability and confidence. One Halloween night, she meets Abel (Johnathon Schaech), a fun music critic, and Zed (Matt Keeslar), a sexy, dimwitted drummer.
Veronica begins to date both simultaneously, and is attracted to each of them equally. She decides that it would be a good idea to let them know the situation, and a metaphorical boxing match ensues. But slowly, through their love for Veronica, they relinquish their selfishness and share her. Before long, both have moved in, and are sharing a bed.
Meanwhile, Veronica, also a starving actress, lands a role in a terrible TV movie, and the director, Ernest (Eric Mabius), starts to put the moves on her. Veronica has no real feelings for him, but she realizes that she craves financial stability. The next day, she learns of her pregnancy, and she thinks about giving her child the life she never had. Abel and Zed, who are each penniless, aren't too surprised when she leaves them for Ernest. But conscience creeps up on her, and she has to decide between a life of luxury and stability and one of love and spontaneity.
Kathleen Robertson is amazing! As the lead character, she almost singlehandedly carries the film, and evokes the splendor of the title. Schaech and Keeslar are around mostly to look good and act dumb, but they manage to make their characters quite charming.
Gregg Araki doesn't go for too much with this film, which is a welcome relief and helps `Splendor' shine. His screenplay is snappy, though not as good as James Toback's similarly themed `Two Girls And A Guy'. `Splendor' is slight, instead of edgy, and that making it quite a pleasant diversion.
`Splendor' has a brighter outlook on life than Araki's previous work, which is surprising since it is his last film before the new millennium. The quirky assurance that a three person relationship could work may make this a hit with the indie crowd.
Araki has a knack for finding talented young actors. Famous faces such as Ryan Phillippe, Heather Graham, Rose McGowan, Christina Applegate and Mena Suvari all owe much to Araki's clever casting. His highly entertaining, offbeat and emotionally hollow `Nowhere', for example, features one of the best teenage casts I've ever seen.
Gregg Araki may be veering towards the mainstream, but `Splendor' is his most accomplished work to date. More so, it is the film that establishes Kathleen Robertson as a performer to watch.
a review by Akiva Gottlieb akiva@excite.com http://cinemania.8m.com
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