Stalemate

Name: Tony
From: Pittsburgh

"Stalemate"

Directed by Terry Zwigoff
Written by Jim Taylor
Produced by Lianna Halfon
Music by Mychael Danna
Editing by Pamela Martin
Casting by Cassandra Kulukundis
Cinematography by Affonso Beato

Principal Cast:
Michael Keaton as Carl Berke
Iben Hjejle as Pearl Singer
Scott Taylor-Compton as Miranda Berke
Michael Angarano as Stan
Illeana Douglas as Lucy Weiss
Matha Maclsaac as Alaina

Tagline: "When all else fails, more will"

Synopsis: Carl Berke stops for his morning coffee; he sighs at the girl at the counter. He pleads for her not to burn the milk this time, it would be the fourth. She does and after a few choice words, he throws it in the trash. The former outspoken, substitute teaching time bomb once wondered how his life turned into an endless amount of random occurrences that shaft him any way possible. Now, he's learned to not care.

It's been two years since the Berke family moved due to Carl's alleged sexual harassment charge. His daughter Miranda didn't have trouble meeting people. Unfortuanately her best friend, Alaina, isn't her friend at all. Her constant bragging about doing coke with Paris Hilton during her trip to California wears thin early in the morning. Miranda's only real communication is Stan, her quiet, soft spoken lab partner in chemistry. She knows he'll never tell anyone her discussions, who is there to tell for Stan? He never says a word. Miranda's conflict comes from Pearl Singer, her English instructor. Her grade is at a point where it is required for tutoring. Against Pearls will, she must do the tutoring, despite knowing her long time friend, Lucy Weiss, was victim to Carl's charge.

Although Carl once thought the charges were from the hands of a paranoid, fragile business law instructor, it's been far too long for debate anymore. Instead, he comes home from work, looks through his daughters text messages, turns on his CB radio, and drinks a cold one. His relationship with his daughter has never been this distant; he knows his negativity and inappropriate wit has taken it's toll and will eventually have to change; right now, who cares, Frisky Dingo is on. Despite Lucy's attempts to stop Pearl, it is her first time at the Berke residence for tutoring. She makes it unaware of her relationship with Lucy, and decides to be friendly with Carl. While turned off by his sarcastic dialogue, she is intrigued by his intelligence and hard facts on life in general. Carl is displeased with her presence, but ultimately enjoys the discussions no one else will have with him. In time, his social relationship with Pearl is a way to bring him closer with his daughter by opening up more and wanting to get to know her again on a personal level. Over time, Pearl enjoys Carl's company and Stan has even asked Miranda on a date.

Pearl begins taking heat from her co-workers for spending time with a former sexual harassing substitute. Her working environment has been stressful to a point where she thrives for Carl's affection. To Carl, she is a welcomed adversary with bite, but he fears hard commitment. Eventually, Carl opens up to her about the constant mental suffering he endures. The stares he receives, the whispers he hears behind his shoulder, and the bickering from the average 70 old woman in the grocery line calling him the rudest man. It is the first time he asks to be listened too by Pearl. Miranda develops a liking for Stan as she is exposed to his music, love for film, obsession with samurai swords, and his collection of doc martins. Carl's invasion of privacy finally holds merit when he reads a disturbing text on Pearls cell phone from Lucy Weiss. He demands to know their relationship and the truth is out. He accuses Pearl of collaborating with Lucy to set him up for another charge. Pearl takes all she can handle and leaves. For Miranda, she is Carl's only reliance to let out his frustration with harsh words towards her and destroying any breakable object in site. The next day at school, Stan tries to cheer her up, but she has none of it. It gets to a point where she breaks it off and tells him his own harsh reality and how she despises it.

Carl leaves a traumatic impact on Miranda. He tries to visit Pearl at the school while leaving her messages but she doesn't break. Although he blindly ignored their real connection, he is soon realizing it without her company. The next day at school, Miranda realizes her lab partner is absent. That following night, the news reports that her partner took his own life earlier in the day. She lays on the couch in disbelief. Her emotions are running high as Carl sits down and comforts her. It'll be alright...

What the press would say:
"Stalemate" is an appropriate term used to describe the latest Terry Zwigoff project with the likes of the brilliant tragicomedy eye of Jim Taylor. In this particular script, our primary characters are all determined not to progress in life or make any sudden action. However, it is the strict connection between them that forces them into boundaries they are not willing to go, but ultimately leads them into unpredictable territories where they need each other, despite their obligation to not change. Some of the beauty within the script are the events that the audience are not shown and are left for us to make our own conclusions. We never know if Carl actually committed the crime he was charged for, and Taylor does a fantastic job at leaving hints in the film that are strong for both cases. Zwigoff really captures the essence of the freshness, yet believable traits these characters possess. "Stalemate" is the engaging story that the teenager, adult, and the carelessness can relate to.

If there were a film for Michael Keaton to show his true abilities once again, this is it. Keaton has a symbolic relationship with the script that in ways reflect on his situation with Hollywood and the fans of films in general. With a perfectly tactless and engrossing character, Keaton does wonders and never once abandons it, nor does he show any remorse. He defends his character through and through and doesn't want to change for anyone. The beauty of the character is its ability to change the outcome and attitude of everyone who encounters him or those around the people in which he has encountered with, and yet we can't virtually tell a change with his character. It's the little things Keaton does that distinguish what mood he is feeling and why he is feeling it. In a way, this is the perfect character for Keaton to bash his harsh critics by not changing who he really is, and at the same time giving a genuine, spot-on performance. He savors on letting his voice be heard through a cynical and bitter direction. The last scene solidifies the virtuosity Keaton possesses; a scene where his daughter pleads for his affection, and even if he doesn't cry or shiver, but we are well aware deep down it is what he is feeling. Iben Hjejle plays the English instructor that is torn between her relationship with Carl and her uncertainty of his past actions. It's a heart felt, comedic, and drastically difficult performance to pull off. Here is a role that demands her emotions to be bought out, while simultaneously trying to hide them because of peoples judgemental perceptions they have for her. Whether it's Carl or the people at work, she is torn and eventually makes a decision to which she knows she will not ever want to go back to. Playing the daughter is Scott Taylor-Compton. Although not acclaimed as the other stars in the film, she shines through and delivers by stealing the scenes from her co-stars with her lovability and kindness. The most challenging part in the role is that Compton must let it be known to the audience of the impact Carl leaves on her. While innocence runs through her blood, she at times cannot help but to feel corrupt and full of hate and despair. Some of the most pivotal scenes are the ones where she is engaging Stan. It gives a surreal, brash look on a real teen's conversation and a real teen's reaction. Playing the role of Stan is impressive stand-out Michael Angarano. Angarano is in the position to where he doesn't rely on dialogue, but the "facial expressions tell a story" angle that most of us are familiar with. However, Angarano brings the character much needed depth with his constant reaction to everything Miranda says, and eventually forces himself to go deeper in this slow motion relationship. He realizes he's taking a chance and wants to find a place for himself in the world. We get the sense that he is easily breakable, lonely, and perhaps listened to those harsh words from the other students more than he should have. It's troubled, grotesque role and Angarano is sure to make noise this year.

While we may have the feeling of emptiness inside after enduring the heart felt yet remorsefully sad conclusion, we begin to realize that it is pain and the illusion that we must literally "fight" our way through life, and that is what makes us grow as human beings. While our characters essentially took common risks in their normal life, it's those common risks that we come to not recognize, and it is those small risks that are the deciding factors in our ability to progress. If it isn't something we can learn from, it is something we can admire, along with the immensely impressive acting display and key direction that makes "Stalemate" the most effective film of the year.

FYC:
Best Picture
Best Actor - Michael Keaton
Best Supporting Actor - Michael Angarano
Best Supporting Actress - Iben Hjejle
Best Supporting Actress - Scott Taylor-Compton
Best Original Screenplay - Jim Taylor
Best Director - Terry Zwigoff