Pictures of Baby Jane Doe

How many times have you been burned when buying a music recording of a favorite artist, only to discover that it was released long before their quality work was produced and the act became well known? A lot of inferior product has been sold taking advantage of an artist's newfound popularity, and "Jane Doe" is a classic example.

Originally released in 1996 as "Pictures of Baby Jane Doe", this 1999 video release features Calista Flockhart, current media darling and star of TV's "Ally McBeal". She plays Jane, a wandering street urchin and sometimes junkie who meets Horace (Christopher Peditto), a part-time bartender in a transvestite bar. Their chance meeting immediately develops into a live-in relationship as unlikely as the rest of the movie.

There isn't much of a plot, other than to follow this pair as they go through a series of highly animated conversations, arguments, trysts, break-ups and reunions. A sub-plot follows them to the home of Jane's estranged father, which provides a bit of background information about her life, none of which is very engaging.

It's a very slow moving film, and when it is over the viewer is left asking what it was all about. The acting is well done, and for fans of Flockhart it's fun to see "Ally McBeal" curse, do hard drugs, and engage in mildly kinky sex scenes. (There is no nudity, but she looks as thin in this film as the tabloids are calling "dangerously anorexic" two to three years after this film was produced.)

I'd give it a (4) on IMDB's scale of (10). If you are a Flockhart fan (as I am) is was a fun curiosity, but there isn't much doubt as to why you didn't see it at your local multi-plex.

This film has a really good script, but the lack of interplay and chemistry between the couple (although there but not played up to its full potential)ultimately leaves you feeling less sympathetic than you would expect to be by the movie's end.

Its interesting to see where Calista Flockhart started out at. She gives a realistic performance, but unless you're a die-hard fan, there's nothing special in this slow, weak film. Christopher Peddito stands out as Horace, a young writer who meets up with the street-wise Flockhart and soon falls madly in love with her. Despite her violent mood swings, he tries to make her feel well and she becomes an inspiration to his writing. No real surprises here. The direction of the film is good, with some interesting visuals and camerawork. The main problem lies in the development of Flockhart; while she plays her part great, it's impossible to care for her when they want you to feel bad for her since she spends most of the movie whining and shouting at the people around her. Things feel really dragged out and pointless sub-plots don't add to anything. "Jane Doe" was interesting to see Flockhart, but otherwise, is a lousy film that you can find as a TV-movie of the week.

Imagine Ally McBeal if she wasn't a lawyer and instead was a drug-addicted homeless prostitute, then you have Jane Doe. That might sound like a bad thing, but actually it isn't. Calista Flockhart plays Ally McBeal with a wide range of personality and she does the same with Jane Doe. Unfortunately, it's just not a good movie. Some of the dialogue is incredibly trite, and even Flockhart can't work around it. Still, it's worth seeing for Flockhart fans -- if nothing else for the shock value of seeing her curse up a storm at times.

Although the movie was panned by many, it offers a glimpse into the gradual downward spiral of a drug addict and her lover. In some ways this movie predicts scenes from 'Requiem for a Dream' with its less than glamorous portrayal of addiction and the life around it. What is most striking about the part is that it is an about face for fans of the sacharine "Ally McBeal" and shows that Flockhart, if a little over the top, could certainly be a bona fide film actress without the help of network television. This is brought further to bear in her part in "Midsummer Nights Dream" (see film list).

The movie itself is a nice change of pace and moves along well. Its very good on those days when you want to watch something a bit off the wall instead of the usual Hollywood blockbusted offering.

My Score: 8 out of 10