RSS
Home
FLIFF movie review: `Trucker'
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Monterey Media
Every actor and actress looks for that one movie that can take them to the next level. Michelle Monaghan has already built herself a budding career. She has starred in some big blockbuster hits along sideof big stars; movies like, “Mission Impossible III” with Tom Cruise, “The Heartbreak Kid” with Ben Stiller and, most recently,“Eagle Eye” with Shia LaBeouf, a resume any actor or actress can only dream about. In her new film, “Trucker” she does not act along side any A-list Hollywood stars because this time out, she is the star of the picture.
In the above mentioned films, as well as many of Michelle’s other work, the main driving point was the spectacle of the picture. People didn’t come to “The Bourne Supremacy” to watch some great character development. If a performer wants to really flex their acting muscles they sometimes have to go the independent route and that is what Michelle has done here. She is lucky to have people around her to find such products rather than an agent who is only looking for the biggest payday for their client. The actress was attached to this project for over a year before funding was found for it. It was then shot in 19 days for 1.5 million dollars.
The film focuses on Diane Ford, a tough-as-nails truck driver. Diane is content with driving her big rig all around the country, having the occasional one night stand and hanging out with her neighbor, Runner (Nathan Fillion) whenever she is home. From there, the story of the film is a familiar one: Diane’s life is forever changed when the son (Jimmy Bennett) she abandoned as a baby (now 11-years old) is dropped off on her doorstep because her ex-husband is in the hospital dying of cancer. Of course, she doesn’t want him around at first and he doesn’t want to be around her. She actually calls him, “dude” through most of the picture. Do they grow closer together and end up wanting to stay together forever? This is one of the oldest formulas in the movie business.
People see independent movies for different reasons, and in this case it is not the story, but the acting is superb through and through. “It’s about a real woman and takes a real hard look at a woman you don’t see in film often and I don’t get a chance to play” Michelle replied to a question during the Q&A after the film was shown at FLIFF. “She’s an unsentimental woman and a woman who is not a victim. She’s honest and she doesn’t lie. That’s pretty refreshing to see in film,” Michelle explains further. Michelle carries this whole film and she does a great job doing so. The movie is a great calling card for Michelle because it shows that this actress has some real depth to her. One can only hope that the big studios will notice. Michelle won the Best Actress American Indie Award at FLIFF this year.
She has a great cast to work alongside as well. Jimmy Bennett may be young, but he’s already building himself a nice resume starring in two big movies this past summer, “Star Trek” and “Orphan”. Nathan Fillion, who has a certain old Hollywood quality about him, has great chemistry in every scene he has with Michelle. Other great performances are turned in by Joey Lauren Adams and Benjamin Bratt. The film is rated-R and will be playing at the Lake Worth Playhouse starting this weekend (Nov 13). For those who appreciate the fine art of performing, the film is a great find.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
