AFF 2010 Review: Main Street

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Main Street

When Main Street screened last Thursday at Austin Film Festival, Horton Foote's daughter Hallie introduced the movie, saying that her father was 92 when he wrote this screenplay. Foote's last screenplay is based in Durham, North Carolina. Durham, at least the way the movie depicts it, is dealing with recession and low tourism numbers, and their young folks are migrating to bigger cities.

Ellen Burstyn plays Georgiana Carr, whose father once ran a tobacco dynasty. She lives in the grand old family home, which is practically a separate character in the film, and has recently rented out her former tobacco warehouse -- now empty -- to somewhat-shady Texan Gus Leroy (Colin Firth, whose accent sounds nothing like Texan). The film starts the evening after she has made the deal with him, as she frets in her living room and calls her niece Willa (Patricia Clarkson, the saving grace of this film). They eventually discover what Leroy is storing in the warehouse: toxic waste. What will this mean for the town?

The subplot focuses on younger citizens of Durham: Orlando Bloom's mustachioed cop Harris (his is another regrettable attempt at a Southern accent) and his ex-girlfriend Mary (Amber Tamblyn). Mary's dating the much older Howard (Andrew McCarthy) from Raleigh -- until she discovers the truth about him. Harris takes law classes at night, even though his mother (whom he still lives with) disapproves. When he's not working as a cop or taking classes, he's badgering his ex Mary, whom he still loves, with phone calls. This gives him a sort of stalker-y vibe, but we're still supposed to like his character.

Patricia Clarkson and Ellen Burstyn play well off each other as niece and aunt, and Clarkson and Firth are enjoyable to watch during their scenes. I actually wanted to see more of Firth and Clarkson together, as they have a nice slow burn to their romantic chemistry. Bloom and Tamblyn, however, are a dull pairing; it seems their storyline is only included in the film to exemplify why young people are leaving small towns.

It could have been a bittersweet relationship film, or a John Sayles-ish look at small-town North Carolina, but nope. Main Street meanders all over the place. The film would have more impact if it had focused on a few big themes, but it tries to touch on too many issues (toxic waste/environmental damage, the economy, romance, corporate influence on city government, family relationships, etc.). The movie therefore feels less than cohesive.

Main Street might be worth checking out if you are a die-hard Horton Foote fan. Honestly, as a fan of Patricia Clarkson, I enjoyed the film despite itself. Ms. Clarkson very rarely disappoints.