Spring Forward

"Spring Forward" has the same limited resources as most indie films but applies them intelligently for maximum effect. The story, a simple male bonding tale about a couple of Parks Dept maintenance men, leapfrogs through the New England seasons as the all-conversation male musings and reflections take the entire run fleshing out the characters so well we'd like to have them to dinner by film's end. Those looking for escapist entertainment should pass on this flick. However, those interested in a character-driven film about what it is to be male shouldn't miss it. Kudos! (B+)

The incomparable Ned Beatty shines so brightly in this soft and simple on the surface buddy film that gets deeper and more meaningfully philosophical as the continued shared conversation about all aspects of life changes each man for the better. Kind of like a blue collar version of the '80's film, My Dinner With Andre.

The story was set in a city park where both men worked in park maintenance jobs, and their progressively more personal conversations while they worked(or sat around goofing off)helped them gain more and more trust in each other over time. All the work-related fence painting, leaf blowing, planting and other simple duties they did demonstrated well that what we all do in life is mostly the same small maintenance things over and over no matter how we might glorify or belittle them. That's most of life.....basic routine. And we are better off for it as it tends to "set us straight" and keep us on track, a point the film clearly intended to make.

Liv Schreiber was excellent as the ex-con workmate so very curious and perplexed about what makes life and people tick, and conveyed well an interesting and informed blue collar philosophy along with an almost desperate sincerity to find a way to set and keep his life straight after a criminal mistake sidetracked him and caused him to be distrustful of others and society in general. Ned's character had some tortured soul problems too as, for example, he had a son die from AIDs and he was still confused and very hurt that the good friends who knew his nice son as he grew up forgot that friendship and turned on him when they found he was gay.

In a climactic scene with a desperate young mother late in the film, a point was emphasized that we all can get very unrealistic and maybe even crazy at times about the importance of the unfortunate things that happen in our lives, but there is nothing better than human caring and benevolence to help us try to set it right. Jesus, Buddha and Mohammed would surely agree.

Spring Forward is the perfect title for filmmaker and writer Tom Gilroy's sincere film, as both men in this soul-nourishing story did spring forward as a result of their growing companionship and sharing and were ultimately better men for it. We should all be so lucky in life. And, all who see this film will be lucky that they saw it.

Murph and Paul seem to be the least likely candidates of this beautiful tale of male bonding and friendship that director Tom Gilroy, working with his original material, brought to the screen with excellent results.

The director couldn't have been luckier in the choice he made in casting Ned Beatty and Liev Schrieber to give life to these two opposite characters, that deep down share a lot in common. We see the men as they begin working together, in a way distrusting one another, but soon realizing their relationship at work translates in everlasting friendship.

Mr. Gilroy gets nuanced performances out of the two leading actors that seem to compliment one another in ways that perhaps, even the director, didn't expect. Mr. Beatty and Mr. Schreiber are actors that look and act totally convincing in the roles they are playing. In minor parts we see Campbell Scott, Ian Hart and Peri Gilpin, among others doing excellent work under Tom Gilroy's sure direction.

Mr. Gilroy has to be congratulated for giving us a story that is unusual and it affirms our faith in humanity.

This film is a play. A play made out of 7 Acts. Act 1 has our 2 protagonists, Murph and Paul with the yuppie, played by Campbell Scott. Act 2 with the homeless Fran, played by Ian Hart. Act 3 with the single and lonely(in spite of her puppies) Georgia, played by Peri Gilpin. Act 4 with Bobby, the podgy boy who wants to paint or "play tennis"! Act 5(my favourite), Murph and Paul by themselves, in the park, in Autumn. Act 6 is at Murph's son Bobby's funeral, with Murph's neighbour. Act 7(a) is at the roadside with the suicidal woman and her daughter. Act 7(b) is the summation...the finale, the end of the year and of Paul and Murph's relationship as colleagues, not friends. These 7 Acts are even divided by little interludes of sorts. Accompanied by lilting guitar strains, they show the passing of the seasons and ordinary people of all ages - children running through a maze of hay, a woman hanging wet clothes on a line...seconds encapsulated and bequeathed with a beauty that transcends ordinariness...making them timeless and eternal.

This film sort of expands what Wordsworth called "the still sad music of humanity". Here are 2 ordinary men - Murph and Paul. The former is middle-aged, worried for his son Bobby who's dying, wondering were he, as a father went wrong. Paul has a gnawing feeling that after his brush with the law, he's been given a second chance and it is upon him to stay out of trouble. At the onset they seem as the unlikeliest of people to strike a bond. But, as another viewer over here commented, they both fill a void in each other's life, a void they didn't know existed. The acting of both Ned Beatty and Liev Schrieber is absolutely commendable. Being a basically verbose film, with the kind of naturalism that it has, it really called in for some concentrated performances. Both Beatty and Schrieber are excellent! The only actor I knew at the beginning of this film was Campbell Scott. And even in the 5-10 minutes that he's there on screen, he does complete justice to his character, which in itself is very true-to-life. He's a likeable yuppie who out of all his sincerity believes that if money can make things simpler and spare him the hardwork and the headache, why not use it? He errs in wearing his status too much on his sleeve and in not keeping his word after promising it.

Tom Gilroy deserves great credit for writing such realistic characters and basically having the courage to make a film that has no apparent plot, just wisdom...and a whole load of it at that! The dialogue, the acting, the cinematography...everything is a treat to watch. Hope to find more gems like this one again!

This is really one terrific film.

It's about two guys working for the Parks and Recreation Dept. in some little town in Connecticut. Paul has just gotten out of jail for robbing a donut shop and is taken under the wing of the much older Murph.

The movie basically is a series of scenes where they talk and discuss life in general. As they're picking up the trash in the park or driving down the road or painting a fence, they discuss the meaning of karma, love, betrayal, Murph's son dying of AIDS, all the things that make up a person's life.

Ned Beatty is excellent in the role of Murph. I've seen him in dozens of movies, but I think I'll always remember him in this role as the character he plays fits him like a glove. He's an easygoing guy who's wise, caring and funny. By the end of the film, you feel you really know him, like he's a real person.

Liev Schreiber plays Paul and he also does fine work in this film. Paul is angry at the world the first day he and Murph go out to work together, but he begins to mellow out as the days go by. He's much younger - mid twenties compared to Murph's early sixties - and he reads a lot of philosophy and discusses it with his friend. By the end, he's opened up a lot and isn't afraid to show his emotions or reach out to others.

This film is everything you could possible ask for in an independent film. There's no expensive props or choreographed action scenes. It's simply two interesting people interacting with each other over the course of a couple of months and the way they affect each other's lives.