REVIEW of film: “DRUNKBOAT” [ = Report # 06 on the 46th CIFF ]

2010, 09-24:

REVIEW of film: “DRUNKBOAT”   [ = Report # 06 on the 46^th CIFF ]

               REPORT # 06 on the 2010 46^th CHICAGO INT’L FILM FESTIVAL =     =

This film has a very odd name, & might make you expect a story of people who are invited on board a vessel to try having a “bender”--  but that is NOT the case:  it’s really about people AROUND the boat who are periodically drunk…

…  As the story begins, longtime scammer Mr. Fletcher (JOHN GOODMAN) is very “2 sheets to the wind” as he winds down the highway with his uneager partner Morley (JIM ORTLIEB)...

...  Their truck is pulling a broken-down old boat which is filling up with water as they’re pelted by a rainstorm.  But never at a loss for an unfeasible “quick fix” to a problem, John promptly drills HOLES in the bottom of the boat for the water to drain out…

…  Per John’s idea, they pick up a young hitchhiker--  who John feels can be used for manual labor work delivering some unauthentic booze “under-the-counter” to a bar.  The bar’s owner treats the hitcher very roughly when John claims he has the money to replace a broken bottle--  all done so John & Jim can escape from the area…

…  Jim --  whose son has come to visit his boatyard with a girlfriend --  does not like the way John “operates”, but he keeps going along with his plans to try to make some “easy money” by doing PHONY “repairs” to the boat (such as using plaster of Paris on the wood hull) so they can sell it to some unsuspecting schnook…

…  The scene switches to the Chicago-area home run by a single mother named Eileen (DANA DELANEY).  Her teenage son Abe (JACOB ZACHAR) loves boats, & tries to convince his pal David (BRIAN DENEEN) that they should try buying one & sailing on their own to an island near Mackinac…

…  Meanwhile, Dana’s home is visited by a strange guy who keeps silently standing in front of the house.  She acts weirdly about the event, & eventually admits to Jacob that the guy is her BROTHER Mort (JOHN MALKOVICH) who she’s “leery” of due to his history of being alcoholic…

…  Eventually, on Jacob’s prodding, she finally lets Malkovich into the house, where he claims to be “SOBER” now.  But, from the way he talks, it’s clear he’s still suffering emotionally and / or mentally from upsetting times he spent fighting the War in Vietnam…

…  Naturally, the main characters start “intertwining”, in that Jacob & Brian go to visit the boatyard to try to buy a “sloop” that’s been advertised for cheap...

...  John naturally keeps “promoting” the boat & working to hide its inherent DEFECTS.  Jacob has the money--  but he has to agree to have some ADULT sign for the the purchase so John can claim it’s a legal “AS-IS” sale (to protect himself from the scam he’s perpetrating)…

…  Jacob has carefully “planned” things to try to buy the boat when his mom Dana is AWAY, expecting he can convince often-confused MALKOVICH (who’s building a bottle “garden”) to sign for the purchase for him… 

…  Will Jacob’s plan WORK?...  Will Malkovich be clear-headed enough to avoid making the deal with scammer John?...  If so, will the boys be SAFE on the boat?...  What will happen if DANA learns of the con?...

…  The film reminded me of a MAMET-style movie, with it’s sort of sparse, clipped & “off-kilter” dialogue (especially by the boat sellers & in speeches Malkovich makes)… 

...  The very end sort of “drifted away” from being effective, & that lowered my overall rating on the odd-but-periodically-fascinating film to a 7 out of 10…

[...  After the above review was written, I was advised that the DVD screener I’d seen was an “incomplete”, UNFINISHED version of the movie.  I had some plans to try to see the “finished” version, but that proved unfeasible due to the ridiculous & disrespectful actions of an “outside” party working for the Festival... ]

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