November 8, 2003

I always forget film fest screenings are not like regular movies. There aren't 10 minutes worth of "coming attractions" before the film. I was running late and had just parked on the rooftop garage adjacent to the theater complex. The clock on my dashboard read "4:10".

Ten minutes, a few choice oaths, and a parking validation later, I found the theater by a rather circuitous route. "Happy Hour" had just started (whew!) and I felt my way down to what I hoped was an empty seat (I don't have the best eyesight) in the 2nd row on the floor.

The story centers around Tully (Anthony Lapaglia), Levine (Eric Stoltz), and Natalie (Caroleen Feeney). Tully is an unabashed heavy drinker and "blocked" writer who works as the Senior Copyrighter at an ad agency. He takes Natalie, an elementary school teacher, home after a night at the bar. In the morning she's hung over, he's not, and she's curious about why he can drink so much with (seemingly) no ill effects. While walking her home, he realizes that she's lived only 3 blocks away, practically under his nose, for years. They decide to see each other again.

At the ad agency, Tully and his accountant friend and fellow "drinker with a writing problem", Levine, count the minutes until it's time to leave and wish they were somewhere else preferably fulfilling their dreams of being full-time writers, instead of just passing time. Later, Tully introduces Natalie and Levine, and Natalie gets the details about Tully's writing talent and his drinking. She later finds out that Tully's father is a famous writer with numerous credits to Tully's few.

The next day, Tully finds out he has advanced cirrhosis of the liver amongst other problems. He gets very drunk in preparation to tell his father that he is dying, but his father is more interested in admonishing Tully for his past behavior. Tully decides to finish writing a novel he started 17 years earlier and starts skipping work. Levine comes looking for him and finds out about his disease. He then tells Natalie. Together they decide to take care of Tully while he writes.

Tully attempts to focus on his writing while also detoxing from the alcohol. He finds that he can't even type without his fingers cramping and twitching and takes drinks to calm his D.T.s. Tully finally has to quit drinking after his friends hide the booze which is both his 'cure' and what's killing him. One day, Tully gives the manuscript to Levine to read with the caveat that Levine write the last chapter - the death scene. Natalie, Tully, and Levine spend Tully's last days together in his apartment.

After his death, Levine and Natalie meet again at the bar but find that they can't stand to drink. As they start to part ways, Natalie reveals that she is pregnant. Tully, in his own way, is still with them.

After the credits rolled, the host invited the audience to stay for a Q and A with the producers, writer/director, and *cast*. I wasn't expecting this so I didn't bring a camera (sorry Sprouty, I know you warned me, I forgot). I did, however, have a cell phone which has a built-in dictation machine. Everyone was introduced and brought up to the front of the theater. As it turned out, my penchant for being late actually gave me a plum seat about 20' away. For those who are interested, Eric Stoltz dressed casually and comfortably in an over-sized greenish jacket, blue shirt, jeans (a little long at the bottom and that appeared to have met up with some wayward bleach or paint splatters), and non-brand name tennis shoes (I believe they were "Zips"). He wielded a water bottle in each coat pocket from which he sipped frequently. He was also having a curly-hair day. Okay, enough about fashion... The actors were asked what brought them to the project. ES mentioned that it was always a miracle that movies even got made and Anthony La Paglia said that in the current Hollywood environment where only "safe" (read: guaranteed blockbusters or familiar themes) were being made that when he got a chance to "experiment" , he always goes for it. ALaP also related how ES came to the project after meeting the director (as referred by Anthony) and agreeing to come on before seeing the script ("that's really not good" per ES). ES then did an impression of ALaP calling him while he was on a plane to Las Vegas for a friend's bachelor party. ES also mentioned that when he read the script he always thought that everyone would see his character as being as much in love with Tully as Natalie. "Whenever I watch the movie it tickles me to know that I thought that [Levine was gay] and no one else did."

Caroleen complimented ES on his calming presence on set and that fact that he made her feel so much at home by making her laugh (during the rest of the Q and A, ES had quite a bit of good-natured fun at her expense). At some point, ES noticed that they weren't standing on their 'marks' (little pieces of tape on the floor of a set that let an actor know where to be in order to properly lined up for the camera and lighting). The entire group moved forward about five feet on his suggestion. Thank you Mr. Stoltz.

The majority of the questions revolved around the process of making the picture, its future, and its themes. Finally, the writer/director, Mike Bencivenga, closed the Q and A with responses about his next film (something that mirrors the lives of more of his "messed up" friends in NY). After that, most everyone started to file out, but ES was immediately surrounded by a throng of people asking questions. Unfortunately, I had to heed nature's call, but I did pass by him (and his posse) again as they were edging - amoeba-like- towards the stairs.

I found the film to be honest and funny with the character of Tully to be the best developed, but with good performances by most everyone. I got the impression that it had not found a distributor yet so it may be sometime before it is released theatrically, if at all (meaning it may go straight to video). There were a few 'familiar' Eric/character mannerisms (i.e. sipping a drink through a cocktail stirrer, the carefully folded back unbuttoned cuffs, the giggle, etc.) to look for for those who are keeping track (although I don't recall any plaid :). If I remember anymore details, there will be an addendum.

Good bye from LA, Ysabella.