You brings timeless human relationship to 21st century filmmaking with poignance, wit, and charm, and it was my great privilege recently to attend a rare theater screening here in Houston.
Helmed by director Melora Hardin (The Office, Monk, Hannah Montana, Thank You for Smoking, and Broadway's Chicago) and written by Gildart Jackson (Charmed, Providence, CSI), You tells the story of Rawdon and Miranda (Jackson and Hardin), parents of infant daughter Quincey, and Rawdon's subsequent journey over the course of two decades (I'd say struggle, but that's imprecise and unnecessarily depressing) to raise Quincey alone upon Miranda's untimely passing.
It's one of those plot descriptions that much like Terms of Endearment's ("a mother-daughter relationship spanning thirty years") doesn't sound like much ~ and doesn't begin to communicate the depth and power of the actual story. (I have a whole theory that the pizazz of a synopsis is inversely proportional to the film's actual punch, but that's a subject for another day...)
You could easily be the sequel to Terms of Endearment had Flap been an actual man instead of a weak, overgrown adolescent. Where Flap was avoidant, Rawdon is devoted; where Flap was lazy, Rawdon is diligent; where Flap disregarded his partner's love, Rawdon holds it as sacred. And where Flap lets go of his children, Rawdon lets his child let go of him. (See, I'm getting teary again even as I write this.) Rawdon is the man, the parent, that Flap should have been, and that every child deserves.
Hardin and Jackson ~ married in actual life ~ are surrounded on all sides by... well, Hardins and Jacksons, making this a true family affair and adding a wonderful sense of richness to the production. As with Martin and Charlie Sheen in Wall Street, it isn't necessary to enjoyment of the film to be aware of this dimension, but knowing it definitely adds to the experience (and where this addition rates a 3 with Wall Street, it rates a 10 with You).
Their daughters Piper and Rory Jackson play Quincey in infancy and early childhood, respectively (at which point she's turned over to the talented Kristi Lauren for tweendom and Smallville's Allison Mack for the duration). On the other generational side, Miranda's parents are played by Hardin's own ~ revered acting coach Diane Hardin and her husband, Jerry Hardin.
Jerry's illustrious career spans decades, though many of late will likely know him best as Deep Throat of The X Files. My favorite role of his has always been as Royce McKnight, one of the menacing senior partners in The Firm (Avery: Where did you put those secret files? Royce: I gave'em to you!).
That is, until it was given a run for its money by his performance as Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain (which he performs as a one-man theater production). Jackson skillfully wove this wonderful element into Rawdon's story, and it was a real treat a few nights later when during a bout of insomnia, I turned on Star Trek: The Next Generation and wouldn't you know, there was Samuel. (On that note, STNG fans will have fun with You ~ I haven't audited everyone's IMDB record, but I count four guest stars off the top of my head.*)
All these personal elements combine in a wonderful blend of love, courage, tenderness, maturity, and acceptance resulting in a work that is truly, as said on the web site, from their hearts to ours. Jackson wrote the screenplay in a single long weekend, and in the post-screening Q&A Hardin described having felt as though she'd just read a love letter written to her. Indeed. Rawdon's love letter to Miranda; Gildart's love letter to Melora.
Jackson's performance is outstanding. Nuanced and impassioned, what could lapse into sentimentality never does, and on more than one occasion audible sniffles reverberated across the theater. Add original music by Grammy® Award winners Paula Cole and Colin Hay (of Men at Work fame), and it's a fait accompli. It's been with me for days, and I have a feeling will remain so for some time.
Also interesting was listening to Hardin describe her directorial approach ~ and what she and the team accomplished with its modest (by Hollywood standards) 250K budget is little short of remarkable. Because You will be shown only rarely on the large screen and instead brought directly to the public via new media channels, Hardin designed the shots specifically for optimum viewing on the television, computer, or iPod screen. A shrewd move indeed.
Brains, beauty, and heart. No wonder Gildart's crazy about her.
For more info: You also features strong performances by Brenda Strong, Amy Pietz, Joely Fisher, Don Michael Paul, Yuval David, and Adam Taylor Brooks. Visit the You official web site for reviews and behind the scenes info, to purchase a DVD, to request a screening in your city, and to join the You community via social media channels. You is available for both rental and purchase download at Amazon and iTunes.
* STNG ~ Jerry Hardin, Amy Pietz, Brenda Strong, and of course, John de Lancie. :)
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