Review: The Man Who Never Cried

Amongst the many short films that I enjoyed at Austin Film Festival 2010 was I Love You Will Smith by local writer/director Bradley Jackson. This amusing film depicted how a casual office conversation about Will Smith’s latest movie can lead to a psychological breakdown -- and physical beatdown -- for some fans. I've found myself referencing Jackson's short in conversations with co-workers about movies so I'll admit I'm hooked. I Love You Will Smith was a Doorpost Film project finalist last year and can be watched on the Doorpost Film Project website here.

After seeing Jackson and his filmmaking crew in action on his latest short film The Man Who Never Cried during a set visit last fall, I was curious to see how the final film would turn out. The Man Who Never Cried has just received a $10,000 Audience Choice Award from the Doorpost Film Project, a prize that was determined by number of online votes through the Doorpost website. You can watch it in full at the end of this review.

The movie's central character, Ralph "it's pronounced Rafe" Winston (Keir O'Donnell), has never cried in his life, not even during his birth or as an adult when his former wilfe has a miscarriage. His inability to express grief and loss through tears has distanced himself emotionally from others. Ironically, his job as a clown enables others to express joy and laughter.

When his father Ted Winston dies, Ralph attempts to find a way to shed his first tear before the funeral. He does so by causing himself physical pain, and even enlisting the assistance of an emotional boot camp instructor Randy Booter to help him cry. As Ralph struggles with his endeavor, he meets Ginny (Jess Weixler) who is struggling with her son's Gavin difficulty with smiling since his father left. Through his interactions with Ginny and Gavin, Ralph must find a way to bring his own emotions to the surface while helping others to deal with their own loss.  I Love You, Will Smith star Mke MacRae narrates the story of Ralph.

Viewers will be quickly reminded of Amelie in the narration and sharp-witted writing as well as the cinematography. However, Jackson has put his own unique style into The Man Who Never Cried in such a manner that his film both pays homage and introduces a wider audience to Jean-Pierre Jeunet's works. The cinematography is dependent on a lot of closely framed shots, lending a wonderful intimacy and connection to the characters -- although maybe a little too intimate with a drifter in a bar scene. The art design is worth mentioning, from Ralph's clown costume to Ted Winston's funeral scene.

The Man Who Never Cried is well-cast with leads O'Donnell and Weixler portraying a realistic and well-matched pair, struggling with their emotions and vulnerabilities. Supporting cast included local musician David Ramirez who plays a tearjerker rendition of "Time After Time." Dave Maldonado is hilarious as Randy Booter, and the more I watch his performance the more I laugh out loud -- "Sometimes you need near death experiences to bring emotions to the surface," he says, as he holds Ralph underwater in a shallow creek.

Jackson successfully weaves humor and sadness into The Man Who Never Cried resulting in a well-balanced bittersweet drama that reminds us all that it's okay to cry. "To weep is to make less the depth of grief, says Billy Shakespeare," according to Randy Booter. Most viewers would be hard-pressed to watch this film and not cry, but for reasons you might not anticipate. Watch for yourself below.

Find out more about the Doorpost Film Project and the grand prize at the film's official website.

[Photo credit: "'The Man Who Never Cried' - Jess Weixler," by Ryan Green of Ryan Green Photography and by permission of producer Andrew Lee.]