Over the years there have been a lot of films about the mentality found in
the typical American small town. Usually it entails the older generation being
trapped and the younger ones yearning to somehow find a way out. You might think
that the topic has been played out but first time writer-director Cameron Watson
has provided a fresh approach to this venerable theme. His film ‘Our Very Own’
looks at five teenagers in a small town who hope a celebrity visit will be their
ticket out. Instead of just focusing on this desire as the driving force of the
film it is a character study of the young people and how they relate to the
adults. He has created an interesting, character driven story that has a good
deal of heart. Along with a stellar cast of established actors working along
side promising up and comers, this film is able to pull the audience into the
story. Usually a drama needs conflict to progress. Here this is obtained not
overtly but in a nicely subtle fashion. Overall this is a film that you warm up
to as you watch. Even if you didn’t grow up in a small town you will be able to
appreciate what is motivating the characters and that is a lot to say about a
film today.
The film begins rather oddly. We see a part of town that while not busy
doesn’t have the feel of being deserted. There is a mixture of private homes and
what looks like some commercial property. What is odd is the car that is driving
along the street, standing atop it is a dog, gleefully enjoying the unorthodox
ride. The car enters the town of Shelbyville, Tennessee back in the 1970’s. We
then see a car with five teenage friends sitting inside, sort of like the
opening of the television series ‘That 70’s Show’. The young people include
Clancy Whitfield (Jason Ritter) and his friend Ray (Derek Carter), Bobby Chester
(Hilarie Burton), Melora Kendall (Autumn Reeser) and Glen (Michael McKee). They
appear to be just a group of friends with no overt romance going on although
Melora and Clancy do seem close. Bobby mentions she has a date the next night
and everyone laughs at the lack of such social engagements within the group.
This particular evening they have stopped to look at the painting of Melora
prominently displayed in the local art/photo shop. Like so many kids their age
in so many towns across this country jut getting out in a car is the one touch
of freedom they can feel. The five of them want to go to Nashville just to get
away for awhile that is if they can get a car to use.
The next day at the local diner the usual customers are in for their meal.
Buzz (Steven Griffith) is trying to convince a friend that he wrote all of Elvis
Presley’s greatest hits including ‘Jail House Rock’ and ‘Hound Dog’. The
waitress offers the latest gossip for the town. The Marquee at the local theater
is going up later and apparently a movie star will be in town for a film
premier. The big rumor is that a local girl who made it big, Sondra Locke
(Elizabeth Cole) will be coming back to town for a local horse show. The kids
run out to check things out and find the theater’s manager setting up the sign
for Locke in ‘Every Which Way’. Melora does manage to get the car from her
acerbic mother, Viginia (Beth Grant) after a few comments about crashing and
killing everyone. In Nashville they are not able to get into a disco so they do
the next best thing, go to a fancy hotel and ride the elevator, what a fast life
these kids have. At home Clancy has a good relationship with his mother, Joan
(Allison Janney) who admonishes him to not upset his father, Billy (Keith
Carradine) because he is going through a difficult time. Although they are
having some financial problems due to unemployment Billy buys a portable
television for his son, much to the chagrin of his wife. The kids hope that
somehow the appearance of Locke in town will be their ticket out. They speak in
terms of a fantasy escape but there is more than a grain of truth to their
hopes.
Cameron Watson has had a long and successful career as an actor, mostly in
some or the best series television has to offer. This is the freshman opus as
writer and director but you wouldn’t know it but watching this film. He has
managed to create a film with an easy going style that nicely depicts life in
small town America. The film progresses not with overly dramatic situations but
through a series of moments. After all it is moments like these that make up
real life. Most are repetition but there are some that become pivotal in life.
This is how it is for the characters here. There are hopes and aspirations set
against the reality that most people in a small town are born and die there.
Locke represents hope, not necessarily of the kids getting out of town but of
the possibility that you can. There is also the juxtaposition between the
parents and their kids. The adults have lived their lives in this town but
somewhere deep inside there is still that need to get out. They see in their
children the same cycle being repeated. Watson paces this film to perfection
drawing the audience in not with flair but with the realism of the story. This
is a character driven film that works because the people involved in the
production were obviously committed to creating a quality product.
Thankfully there are actors out there that care about their craft. Although
they can get more visible roles they involve themselves with little independent
films like this. Jason Ritter is the son of the late, great television comic
actor John Ritter. He is creating a career for himself on his own terms working
on expanding the dramatic side of his abilities. He plays Clancy as a young man
who is quietly trapped. He wants more out of life but sees his father’s
situation as a more likely indicator of his future. Autumn Reeser may be best
known for her work on the TV series ‘The OC’ but there is a lot more to her
talent. She is a joy to watch here as the ever hopeful Melora. For his age
Michael McKee shows remarkable restraint in his portrayal of Glen. He could have
played a teenage boy that is quite possibly gay as a stereotype but instead
gives a great deal of humanity to his role. The adults in this film are
incredible. Allison Janney is wonderful as the mother force by circumstances to
be the emotional strength of the family. She has a gentle and believable
chemistry with her on screen spouse played by Carradine. One notable appearance
here is by Mary Badham. This is her first screen appearance in 39 years. She is
also the Oscar nominated actress for her incredible role of Scout in ‘To Kill a
Mockingbird’.
I had the privilege of interviewing Cameron Watson
and it was a complete delight. This is a man who is not only talented and has a
real future as a director but is also passionate about his projects. When I
asked him about the dog on the roof of the car he told me it was based on a real
dog, Charlie, who's owner used to drive him around town like that. Like Jeff
Goldblum in the 1975 Robert Altman classic 'Nashville', Charlie appears in
various scenes binding them together as just part of life in a small town. The
character of Buzz was also based on a gentle, slow man who was a fixture in
Shelbyville, Tennessee where Watson grew up. We also
spoke at some length about how the film is a series of moments. It was Watson's
intention to show that life is like that, no overly dramatic scenes just moments
that shape our lives. While many have compared this film to 'Waiting for Guffman'
the likeness is superficial. In this film the hopes placed on the celebrity
coming to town represented the hopes of all teens in a small town, to find
something better than their parents knew. Cameron is friends with Allison Janney
and wrote her part specifically for her and the collaboration worked very well.
We also spoke about the use of colors and lighting and Cameron stated that he
wanted to capture the seventies in subtle way which he certainly did. Cameron is
a man who is just starting his career as writer-director and I look forward to
his future projects.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment in association with Miramax offers yet another
excellent Indy. For a studio know for big budget family films it is great that
they haven’t turned their backs on films like this that are worth owning yet you
most likely never heard about. This is a straight forward DVD release devoid of
extras. This is a shame since I would have loved to have had a director and cast
commentary. The non-anamorphic, 1.85:1 video is well done. The color palette is
clear and realistic. The Dolby 5.1 fills the room in a subtle fashion. This film
is one to watch and own.
Posted 06/27/07