TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY (1996)

Directed By: Michael Pressman 
Written By: David E. Kelly 
Based On The Play By: Michael Brady 
Cinematography By: Tim Shurstedt 
Editor: William Scharf 


Cast: Peter Gallagher, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Baker, Bruce Altman, Wendy Crewson, Laurie Fortier, Freddie Prinze Jr., Seth Green 


David Lewis is affected by the death of his wife Gillian, who fell from the mast pole of their boat on a sailing trip two years ago. David deals with his grief by continuing his romance with Gillian during walks with her ghost on the beach at night. While David lives in the past, other family problems crop up in the present in the real world. He neglects his teenage daughter Rachel and his in-laws come for a weekend visit to help her. Rachel has lost her mother and needs her father to snap back into the real world and help her.

You can tell that this film was originally a play by it’s heavy dialogue that tries to seem natural and loads of interior scenes that seem to take place around the same location. Not to mention the theatricality of scenes, situations and performances.

This is a film that seems like it will Play more to the 1% crowd more than anything. As it’s characters seem more affluent and their problems not as penetrating.

What’s strange is that it started off as a play and was rewritten by David E. Kelly the genius tv-writer behind such shows as L.A. LAW, ALLY MCBEAL and THE PRACTICE that it’s strange for it to be rewritten so much that he get solo credit. Even though it seems that the studio and producers were more or less banking in his noteriety to bring in audiences in what seems to be one of his first movie screenplays. It brought in the talent as Michelle Pfeiffer who he is married to appears probably because of that relationship and Kathy Baker an Emmy award winning actress co-stars and she was part of the show PICKET FENCES. It also seems rather simple and watered down.

I will admit my only interest in this film at the time was after seeing a preview and knowing that Claire Danes was starring in the movie. This was after her show MY SO CALLED LIFE was cancelled but before ROMEO & JULIET came out and was a hit. This film was one that gave her a more substantial part then previous films she was getting like LITTLE WOMEN and HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Though unfortunately this film feels like a wasted opportunity for her and all involved.

As it is a story you have heard, seen and watched before and while that isn’t necessarily a bad thing it is when you have seen it done better. The film Just seems to lay there as it has no insight or passion and it comes off as dull and lifeless. Which for a film that is supposed to come off as breezy yet have depth is a major problem.

The only time this film feels engaged is in a minor side story of Claire Danes teenage friend (played by Laurie Fortier) constant flirtation with her father’s married best friend. He engages her back and when she calls his bluff. She tells him exactly why he won’t go through with it. Dressing him down and making him feel ashamed. Then that story line comes to an end. The film ends up needing more scenes like that with more confrontations to add some life to the film and characters.

This movie just seems more inclined to fascinate the theater crowd. As it seems to take in the emotional worries of wasp’s, and philistines. That leaves little if interest for the rest of the audience other then a drama that feels more melodramatic. Where as I will admit my only interest In The film in the first place was Claire Danes and maybe David E. Kelly having written the screenplay

This is also the feature film debut of Freddie Prinze Jr. take that how you will luckily he barely has any lines. So this was before he became a teen star and made many insufferable performances in many films that were subpar to abysmal

This film is a rarity as this was made at a time in the 90’s in particular where no matter the subject matter or quality of script or film. As long as you had big names or at least recognizable names in it. The film could be made at a respectable budget and not seem cheap or exploitive. Those days are gone now. This film seems to want to more be a hallmark prestige film. As at the time many plays or even past hit plays were being dramatized for the big screen. I’M NOT RAPPAPORT, SEARCH & DESTROY, MARVIN’S ROOM, VANYA ON 42ND STREET, SUBURBIA

Grade: F