The Merry Gentleman (2008)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Michael Keaton

Writer:

Ron Lazzeretti (writer)

Release Date:

4 December 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A man with a secret. A woman with a past.

Plot:

A woman who leaves an abusive relationship to begin a new life in a new city, where she forms an unlikely...

Cast

Michael Keaton	...	Frank Logan
Kelly Macdonald	...	Kate Frazier
Tom Bastounes	...	Dave Murcheson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Bradecich	...	Jerry
Debbi Burns	...	Office Worker at Christmas Party
Maritza Cabrera	...	Restaurant Patron
Bobby Cannavale	...	Michael
Esther Claire	...	Restaurant Patron
William Dick	...	Mr. Weiss
Jay Disney	...	Drunken Businessman
Mike Falevits	...	Guy at Party #1
Sean Fortunato	...	Ted
Shaun Gayle	...	Doctor
Lori Ann Gerdisch	...	Female Co-Worker
Steven H. Hansen	...	MOB Businessman
Gerald O. Heller	...	Restaurant patron
Darlene Hunt	...	Diane
Randall Jones	...	Customer
Bob Kolbey	...	Office Party Guest
Joseph Mazurk	...	Background lawyer
Doug McDade	...	Sleeping Man
Greg Mills	...	Steve
Aleh Neliubin	...	Yoga Guru
Larry Neumann Jr.	...	Lester
Henry Sandifer	...	Business Professional
Toni-Marie Spera	...	Customer at Restaurant
John Thurner	...	Restaurant Patron
Guy Van Swearingen	...	Billy Goldman
David Dino Wells Jr.	...	Passerby
Lisa Wolf	...	Office Worker

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

USA:110 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Jackson Income Fund

Goofs:

Continuity: In the hospital room on Christmas Day, Frank Logan is holding the cup of water in the medium shot, but in the long shots, it is setting on the table.

Saw it at Sundance

The Merry Gentleman (Dir: Michael Keaton): The word on the "street" (or shuttle) was "eh" for Keaton's directorial debut, as it was for other gems like "Quid Pro Quo" and "The Escapist". That's too bad, especially considering hot tickets like "The Great Buck Howard" were underwhelming compared to the lower-profile films. The Merry Gentleman is slow paced, yes, but that's an attribute. Keaton doesn't rush anything in his story of a lonely young woman (Kelly McDonald) who is the locus of desire for several men, including her ex-husband (a great Bobby Cannavale), an alcoholic cop, and a suicidal hit-man (Keaton). He honors the complexity of the situation with an ending as open ended as it is authentic. It is a glowingly photographed, impeccably performed magical realist drama, one that I'm glad exists in a market where it cannot thrive (just like the best Alan Rudolph films). Taking place during two of the loneliest holidays (Christmas and Valentine's day), The Merry Gentleman is also a great religious film, movingly detailing McDonald's faith as she in turn becomes a figure of worship for men with a variety of intentions. It even ends with a resurrection. As a primer on our ability to "save" each other, this is nothing less than rapturous, and Keaton infuses the frame with snow, fluorescent light, and human encounters that match the melancholic beauty of the frame. With Game 6 and this film, Keaton has proved to be one of our most reliable and literate actors. He is also a knockout director. ****