Going All The Way
review by Ed Johnson-Ott
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Turning "Going All The Way" into a movie wasn't easy. So much of Dan Wakefield's classic novel takes place in the thoughts of one sad, repressed and desperately horny young man. How do you take such an interior story and transfer its essence to the big screen? Quite well, thankfully. With some PBS documentaries and the award winning video of Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" giving them a little clout, producer Tom Gorai and director Mark Pellington convinced Wakefield to write the screenplay for his story, then secured funds to film it in Indianapolis, where the novel is set. Pellington is an ardent fan of "Going All The Way", having read the book at least 25 times, and knows the lead characters inside and out. His vision and Wakefield's dialogue merge to create a remarkably faithful adaptation of the story of two young soldiers returning to Indianapolis in 1954. While train-bound home, Sonny Burns, an introvert who has spent most of his brief life trying to blend into the nearest wall, is mortified when another soldier, Gunner Casselman, strikes up a conversation. Sonny remembers Gunner as one of the "big rods" from high school, a handsome, assured athlete and cocksman, a member of a social caste Sonny envied and feared. Gunner's experiences overseas have changed him, however. He now views his glory days in high school as the stuff of childhood and longs to find the deeper meanings of life. He admires Sonny for "not buying into all that jock bullshit" and Sonny, feeling like a total fraud but grateful for the friendship, bonds with him. Much to the confusion and dismay of their respective parents, the two set off on a quest for substance, only to find their penises acting like divining rods, drawing them towards the nearest beautiful woman. In his 1970 novel, which sold over a million copies, Wakefield made what could have been a stock coming-of-age story fresh with his stunningly honest look at the details of spiritual, social and sexual desperation, balanced with many sardonically funny moments. Pellington conveys those feelings with striking visual style, using bold colors and contemporary editing techniques to allow us to see the world through Sonny's eyes. When the young man gets drunk at a dance, Pellington's edgy camera captures Sonny's perceived urbane finesse, including an absurd, brilliant dance scene you will never forget. When a sexual liaison turns into a disaster, Pellington employs a black and white palette and stark lighting to show Sonny's nightmarish race away from the scene of his humiliation. Again and again, Pellington comes up with just the right method to thrust us into the center of Sonny's tortured soul. Pellington came up with just the right actor as well. Jeremy Davies, who made his mark in the indie film "Spanking The Money", is a scrawny young man who doesn't faintly resemble the doughy character described in the novel, but within moments Davies makes it clear that he IS Sonny Burns. Stammering, shifting and casting his eyes ever downward, Davies is remarkably adept portraying a man who appears apologetic for merely existing. Complimenting Davies is Ben Affleck ("Chasing Amy") as Gunner, in an confident, effective performance. The original cut of "Going All The Way" was nearly three and one half hours. Forced to trim the film to under two hours, Pellington had to edit a major subplot involving, among other things, the ramifications of Gunner growing a beard in the ultra-conservative Indianapolis of the 50s. Sadly, the result somewhat mutes the development of Gunner's character and gives the talented Affleck limited time to show his chops. Hopefully we'll see a director's cut with restored footage someday. Several supporting cast members stand out, notably Amy Locane as Buddy, Sonny's "safe" girlfriend, and Rachel Weisz, dazzling as Marty Pilcher, an art student who hits Gunner like a thunderclap. Jill Clayburgh is scary as Sonny's mother, an over-possessive fundamentalist whose cloying patter fails to mask her emotional terrorism, and Lesley Ann Warren is a knockout as Nina, Gunner's sexy Mom. Warren has one of the film's most outrageously comic scenes, when she confronts Gunner over his relationship with a Jewish girl and spews some absolutely insane anti- Semitic bile. Production designer Therese Deprez won an award at the Sundance Film Festival for turning Indianapolis into a model of 1950s style. Her sets are dead-on, providing a bright contrast to the story's dark tone. Enlivened by many funny moments, "Going All The Way" remains a dark tale that invigorates because of its bracing honesty. Wakefield, Pellington and company have much to be proud of here. Hopefully, their work will show other filmmakers that classic books can become winning films, when talented artists respect the integrity of the source.
copyright 1997
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