The Extra Man

Kevin Kline creates the sort of character we haven't seen in a long time, not since Clifton Webb, Noel Coward or even George Sanders, an actor dares to step into the uncomfortable zone with so much wit and panache. He is the reason to see the film and in my book, that's reason enough. Paul Dano is wonderful but he projects a strange feeling. As if he has been removed from the pot a bit too quickly. He doesn't look quite done yet. Thoroughly undercooked. One has the overwhelming feeling, he won't be able to survive in this world. The film, as film, doesn't have the aspirations of Paul Schrader's "The Walker" nor its darkness but if you're not put off by a slightly tentative direction, you're in for a treat.

Bring Clifton Webb forward 60 years, add wackiness, and you have Kevin Kline as the eccentric bachelor in a rent-stabilized dump on the Upper East Side (yes, there are such flats still). His new roomie played by Paul Dano has a poignance, a sad yearning that I haven't seen conveyed so well since Timothy Bottoms in "Last Picture Show." Dano has the sort of face you only see nowadays looking at you across time in family pictures from a century ago or more. The face is ingenuous, pure. The kind of face that America just doesn't make anymore.

Both characters have built protective walls around themselves, perhaps necessarily. Though they fascinate each other, and unintentionally entertain each other, they can't decide whether or not to be real allies.

The older man depends on super-annuated ladies of wealth for his dining out and his winters in Florida. The younger man, though straight, enjoys wearing ladies lingerie while having sex. It can be all a bit depressing.But there's a soft landing, a nice ending to this opus all around.

Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini's 'The Extra Man' is average stuff... that had the potential to come out as a pure gem. But, the writing is weak, especially in the final 30-minutes.

'The Extra Man', based on a novel, tells the story of a failed playwright, who develops an odd mentor relationship with a Louis Ives, a troubled, cross-dressing, aspiring writer to whom, he sublets a room in his New York apartment.

The idea, is fairly interesting, and it does hit the right points in the beginning. But, after a point, the writing begins to lose. The pace suddenly dips, and even the culmination comes out bland. Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini's adapted screenplay is flawed. Their direction is just about okay.

Performance-Wise: Kevin Kline is damn good. He is the life of the show. Paul Dano does reasonably well, while John C. Reilly sports a hideous get-up. Katie Holmes is alright. Alicia Goranson is fair.

On the whole, an average effort, that had great potential, but sadly, gets wasted due to weak writing. Watch it if you must!

Young Louis loves F. Scott Fitzgerald and cross-dressing. One day he gets fired from the university where he teaches, because caught trying on a bra. Louis moves to New York and takes lodgings in the dirty apartment of Henry Harrison. Kline as Harrison is as quirky and hilarious as Otto in A Fish Named Wanda, only slightly older.

Louis and Henry have one of the most bizarre relationships I saw on screen. Louis starts working for an environmental magazine and sort of falls for Mary, a colleague, while exploring his fetish with paid professionals. Henry is very cagey about his past and very keen about his "job" as an escort of elderly, rich ladies. Louis is fascinated by Henry, and asks to be introduced to some of his friends.

Louis and Mary romance never really takes off. I found that more realistic than a love story, considering how weird the Louis character is. Having lost his father while young, Louis seems very confused about everything and hanging on to Henry as a father figure. However, Henry is very reluctant to taken on a fatherly role. Henry believes he is a gentleman, he has some repulsive ideas (women should not get an education), lives in a filthy and squalid apartment and forces his way as a guest in his rich friends Palm Beach houses.

More quirkiness - maybe too much? - is added by neighbor Gershon, an hirsute weirdo with a funny voice.

I liked Kline as Henry, because he made his pathetic and repulsive character almost endearing. John C. Reilly was also good as Gershon. Not sure about Dano's interpretation: a dreamer with little social skills, who likes the roaring Twenties and dressing as a woman is a lot to manage. Also, his Louis is not particularly sympathetic, which perhaps adds a bit of realism to the story.

This movie actually took me by surprise.

First of all, let me start off by saying that the story is so compelling and spellbinding that it will blow you away. There is just something about this movie that is so unique in every way.

The characters in this movie are so fantastically unique, quirky and lovable. It all just came together for a greater unity. The role of Louis Ives (played by Paul Dano) was the quirkiest of all, struggling to find his place in life, dealing with his sexuality and the admiration of Henry and trying to find acceptance. And I must admit that Paul Dano portrayed his character in a very good way; he was awesome in this movie. And his resemblance to a young Liam Neeson is just uncanny.

Moving on to the role of Henry Harrison (played by Kevin Kline), well his role was eccentric and strict. But, as usual, Kline put on a magnificent performance. He is very charismatic and have a good voice. He is indeed one of the better actors of recent times.

And also, not forgetting, the strange character of Gershon Gruen (played by John C. Reilly) was also very memorable and lovable, especially his voice.

In all fairness, then this movie worked so good on all levels. However, I think that a share of people might be put off by the movie, as it does have that certain epic cinema moment to it, and also dealing with (and I use this term in lack of better) sexually deviant behavior. For me, I found that aspect of the movie to be one of the driving factors, because it showed how Louis Ives was struggling to find himself and dealing with his needs.

The movie is very beautiful in more than one way. The story is beautiful, the cinematography is beautiful, the music is beautiful, and so forth. This is one of the better movies I have seen in a while. It is a fresh breath of change in the movie scene for me. Nice with a movie that stands out from the mainstream comedies, and dares to be so unique as it is.

If you haven't already seen "The Extra Man", then you owe it to yourself to do so, especially if you are (like me) a lover of the cinema and movies. This is a story that will stay with you for a long, long time.

Thumbs up, way, way up from me!