BBBB
(out of 5)
Matt Damon plays a math genius who is hiding his light under a bushel by working odd jobs as a construction worker and janitor. Best friend Ben Affleck stands by him but hopes one day his friend will go off in the direction that waits for him, psychiatrist Robin Williams tries to open him up to his personal problems and help him move on, and girlfriend Minnie Driver offers him a choice to be worthy of her or let her slip away. All these actors are brilliant in this very moving drama written by its two lead actors, who both won Academy Awards for their work and have since become big stars. For some this film will be an endless excuse to let poster-boys preen and moan about themselves, not to mention Gus Van Sant’s fans who will be disappointed not to see him doing something as cutting edge as his films (To Die For, Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho) usually are, but the film still has its moments. Driver tells a dirty joke that is one of her best ever moments on film.
Be Gentlemen Limited Partnership, Lawrence Bender Productions, Miramax
USA, 1997
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Screenplay by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
Cinematography by Jean-Yves Escoffier
Produced by Lawrence Bender
Music by Danny Elfman
Production Design by Missy Stewart
Costume Design by Beatrix Aruna Pasztor
Film Editing by Pietro Scalia
