Product: Crazy in Alabama [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 4.0
Likeable film (SPOILER WARNING)
SPOILER WARNING: This comment discusses the ending of this film in detail. If you haven't seen the film, you might want to wait until you have seen it before you read this comment.This is a very likeable film about a flaky woman and her family in 60's Alabama. Lucille (Melanie Griffith) is fleeing her small town because she just killed her husband and cut off his head. She left the body in her freezer and decided to take the head with her as she embarks on her new career in Hollywood. This is actually two stories. The first is Lucille's escapades and the second follows her young nephew Peejoe back home, who finds himself in the middle of a civil rights incident involving the death of a young black man who refuses to leave an all white swimming pool. Both stories are well done, but disparate.This is my first criticism of the Mark Childress screenplay based on his own novel. This story can't make up its mind whether it is a farce (the Lucille story) or a serious drama about civil rights in the 1960's. It succeeds in both regards, but putting the two together takes impact and credibility away from the serious civil rights story, which in my mind was the better element.My second criticism was the ending. Lucille is tried and convicted of the first degree murder of her husband and is sentenced to 20 years, (suspended) and five years of therapy, then set free. Although this panders shamelessly to the feel good audience, and Lucille was a lovable character, films like this send the wrong message to the masses regarding justice and accountability. The message is that if you are likeable, flaky and a victim, the rule of law doesn't have to apply to you. I feel that the film industry needs to take a little more responsibility than this.When I saw the movie, I started out skeptical about the prospects of a film directed by Antonio Banderas, even more since his wife Melanie Griffith was cast in the lead. I was pleasantly surprised on both counts. Banderas showed very solid direction, good camera work, excellent period props (great vintage cars), and an attention to detail that was impressive for a first time director.Melanie Griffith was the best I can remember her since "Working Girl". She was charmingly loopy and brightened up every scene she was in. But as good as she was, the best performance was from young Lucas Black as Peejoe. After a fine performance in "Sling Blade" he proves it wasn't just a fluke. Black has a natural, plain spoken acting style with that heavy southern drawl which is I'm sure must be close to his real accent. He projects sincerity and character and an inner strength far greater than one would expect for his years. I look forward to seeing more of his work.I rate this film 7/10. It was a good story with an identity crisis, but most people will have an easy time liking this film.