I’m a sucker for shout outs to my hometown(s) in film, music, TV, etc., so Starting Out in the Evening had a little bit of a leg up in my book as soon as one of the characters made an off-hand reference to growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Starting Out centers on aging author Leonard Schiller, played by Frank Langella, a once famous novelist who has faded from the public consciousness and has been struggling to finish the same novel for nearly a decade. Leonard has settled into reclusive rut, with his only human interaction coming in the form of periodic visits from his daughter. A wrench is thrown in his routine when he is approached by a young female grad student, played by Lauren Ambrose, who is planning to write her thesis on Leonard and bring his works back into the mainstream. Leonard is initially apprehensive about agreeing to the set of interviews she asks of him, but after he realizes that commercial interest for his next novel is almost non-existent, he begins to change his tone. As the interviews progress, Schiller and Heather (the grad student), begin to develop a unique relationship. While outwardly ambivalent, we get the sense that Leonard is desperate for the sense of affection that has apparently been absent from his life for many years. Heather, on the other hand, seems to be somewhat disconnected from people her own age, feeling like her interest in literature and art give her more in common with those of her parents generation. Out of their initial friendship, a semi-sexual-romantic tension starts to build, creating a situation which neither of them expected or are fully prepared to handle.
The most noteworthy aspect of this movie is the powerhouse performance given my Langella (who has a long, but surprisingly unimpressive resume since the early 70s). Although his character reminds me somewhat of Sean Connery’s in Finding Forrester (“You’re the man now, dawg.”), Langella provides conveys depth and realism that far exceeds what Connery was able to accomplish with his role. Lauren Ambrose (who I still can’t decide if she is good looking or not) also delivers a quality performance, especially in the awkward tense moments between she and Langella, where she displays the perfect balance of youthful innocence and a hint of sexuality. I also must give a great deal of credit to Brian Morton, who wrote the novel, and Fred Parnes, who wrote the screenplay. The story, particularly the relationship between Leonard and Heather, is exceptionally unique and well written. The dialogue also seemed to be very natural for each of the characters.
Overall, Starting Out in the Evening is a top flight drama, a bit of a coming out party for Ambrose (at least for film, she did receive a lot of praise for her role on Six Feet Under), and a reintroduction of Langella to starring roles. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves great dramas and quality independent films.
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