Feature Fridays

Morning, Kids-

I've decided to dedicate Fridays to movie reviews. Now, there are plenty of websites for picks and pans for the more "popular" films out there. You can take your pick. No, I want to introduce you to the little known and hidden gems that I've come across over the years.

Now, this may not always hold true. There are truly great films out there that demand our attention. I'm still haunted by Munich, and may end up writing a review once I find the words.

But for today, I'd like to keep it personal. About 10 years ago, during the '96 Olympic fever, I saw a little New Zealand import on Starz on a lazy Saturday afternoon. I'd like to tell you about it now:

Title: Alex
Year: 1993
Director: Megan Simpson Huberman
Staring: Lauren Jackson, Chris Haywood, Josh Picker, Cathy Godbold, Elizabeth Hawthorne

The movie Alex, based on the novel "In Lane Three, Alex Archer," by NZ author Tessa Duder, follows the life of 15 year old Alex (Jackson) in her hopes to win a spot on the New Zealand Olympic Team for the 1960 Rome Olympics.

The movie opens with undefeated Alex losing a meet to newcomer Maggie Benton (Godbold), despite the best efforts of her determined coach and friend, Mr. Jack (Haywood). Alex and Maggie are soon thrown into bitter competition both in and out of the water thanks in no small part to Maggie's demanding and ever-present mother (Hawthorne).

But it's not just the Olympics on Alex's mind. Classified today as an overachiever, Alex's life is filled to the brim both at school, where she is extremely active in ballet, piano, field hockey, and the school play - not to mention exams; and at home, where she, as the oldest sibling, has chores, cooking, cleaning, watching the kids, and helping take care of her ailing grandmother. And, if that weren't enough, now she's having feelings for long time buddy, Andy (Picker).

As the movie progresses, a hockey injury lands Alex in a plaster cast for several weeks, which keeps her out of the water and forced to watch Maggie get better and better, becoming the favorite for Olympic selection. Torn between the ugly whispers of the girls who don't understand sport, her inadequacy around small, petite Maggie, troubles at home, finding time for her school activities, Olympic training, and her feelings for Andy, Alex comes close to the breaking point.

Then, tragedy strikes and Alex must make a decision between facing her own demons and pushing on to the Olympic trials or an early retirement. In the end, she must swim the race of her life.

The first time I saw it, I was impressed by the story and scope and range of its principals. Alex Archer was such a fully realized character, that I found I was watching a real person, not an actress playing a part. All walls were lowered and Lauren Jackson simply dissolved into the role. The same with Chris Haywood as Bill Jack. Both come off as old friends on screen (though they had never met in real life) and their chemistry together is wonderful.

Elizabeth Hawthorne really enjoyed herself, chewing her way through her scenes with zeal and moxie. Her Mrs. Benton is the main villain of the piece, and Hawthorne knocks it out of the park. Cathy Godbold does her best with Maggie, but falters up against the more versatile Jackson and Hawthorne. Same with Josh Picker. His Andy Richmond is handsome and he broods over Alex and her passions well enough, but this is a more feminist film, and with only a handful of scenes with Haywood for an anchor, Picker is quickly swallowed in a sea of estrogen.

New Zealand could be considered a main character itself and Huberman does a great job on pulling the lens all the way back and letting the landscape speak for itself. She holds on establishing shots longer than other directors would just to allow us to take it all in and fall in love with the country, and long before Peter Jackson sent us his 3 postcards of New Zealand.

The movie is based on the first of a quartet of books from acclaimed New Zealand author Tessa Duder. After I saw the film, I went out and purchased the book (not knowing that there were 3 more in the series). It was a small paperback, about 150 - 200 pages, and I burned through it in one sitting. I was so intrigued by it, I immediately started reading it again. It gave such a wonderful back-story to the film and really fleshed out the other characters. With the film version fresh in my mind, it helped expand the book and made the reading experience that much more enjoyable.

I've since read all 4 books in the series, and try to re-read the quartet once a year. All in all, quite an enjoyable film. And found by sheer accident. Funny how things work out.



Hope everyone is having a good week. Mine has been a little crazy, but that's good. We could all do with a little crazy every now and then.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." ~Henry Ward Beecher

-Jos