Canvas

Canvas ***

Directed by Joseph Greco
Written by Joseph Greco

Starring:
Joe Pantoliano as John Marino
Marcia Gay Harden as Mary Marino
Devon Gearhart as Chris Marino
Sophia Bairley as Dawn
Marcus Johns as Sam
Antony Del Rio as Gregg

101 Minutes(Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements. )
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"Canvas" is proof that good things could happen on a small scale. This film is the definition of an indie picture-two semi-big stars, autobiographical tale, rather corny music, somewhat slow pacing-and while it isn't a perfect movie, there is enough here to really make it a well done picture, all founded on a brilliant performance by Joe Pantoliano, and honestly this is a bit out of character for him. Usually playing rather tough characters, I was struck by how well he played this real life guy, tortured by tragedy and having a difficult time not being able to do anything while his life falls apart around him. And the script, written by director Joseph Greco, is based on true incidents that he went through as a child, and its this personal touch, as well as Pantoliano's acting, that takes the movie out of the tired old family drama cliches, and turns it into something rather heartwarming, and simple to take in.

Pantoliano plays John Marino, a simple father and husband whose wife Mary, played in a sometimes over the top performance by Marcia Gay Harden (more on that later), was just released from a mental hospital. Their son Chris-a debut performance by Devon Gearhart-is happy to have his mother back, but after an incident where her insanity happens in front of his friends, he realizes how sick she really is. Eventually she finds herself back in the hospital after her son is minorly hurt, and Chris and John are alone again. John takes his sick vacation-which adds up to almost eight and a half weeks-and in the time where his son really needs him, he instead begins to build a sailboat-Mary loved sailing when she was younger, and it's supposed to be a surprise for her. Meanwhile Chris begins to grow up, going through typical amounts of young adult love with a girl in school, and at the same time is worried about his mother and her problem, etc.

Pantoliano is really at the top of his game here. Here is a man who just wants to help his family. He works very hard, watching as his boss tells him reasons why he can't give him a raise and then drives away on a giant motor boat painted wild colors. And he watches as his wife changes from the women he fell in love with to something completely different. And he watches his son live through all of it. Marcia Gay Harden is good in the film at times, but occasionally, especially during the scenes where her mental illness really comes into play, she drifts from believably sick to over the top. It's during these scenes where Greco really tries to amp the emotions, but they just made me wince a little bit and not because he wanted us too. In addition some of the scenes with the kids in school are hard to watch, mainly because several of the child actors are quite bad-excluding our hero. A subplot involving Chris selling old shirts with sewed on patches all over them is a little unbelievable, especially when people pay him nearly forty dollars to do it. Where do the kids get that kind of money? And a subplot involving Chris and a bully is never exactly given an ending-I don't care if that ended happily or not, but just some kind of closure over what we got.

But all in all "Canvas" is an indie film with few flaws-not perfect, but certainly emotionally honest and true, and very well acted by the man sometimes known as Joey Pants. This is a well made film, and a great debut for Greco, who had just made short films in the past.

Now Playing:
Regal Union Square