After flicking through the BIFF screening schedule, I noticed that, 'I Love You Phillip Morris', is being screened Saturday, 13th Nov, at Palace Centro on James St. This is the most incredible, funny, and well written film, and it is such an absolute shame it didn't screen nationally (or barely at all) when it was released late last year/earlier this year. I was lucky enough to review this film whilst living in Copenhagen this year - see review below.
TRAILER (link)
I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS
Dir: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Published, The Copenhagen Post, 2010
First things first, this is a love story between two men, but I would sincerely hope that this doesn’t hinder you from viewing a daring and courageous true story of raw, unabashed love. Our favourite ‘yes man’ Carrey holds down an extremely convincing performance, flirting with his renowned approach to physical slapstick, darker comedic performances, and far more serious roles like The Truman Show. Carrey finds common ground with I Love You Phillip Morris, his character Steven Russel more perfectly fitting his acting style than the selection of body-hugging designer outfits he flamboyantly parades. Seated alongside a fabulously camp McGregor, the result is a truly believable portrayal of an unbelievable man, love drunk and utterly devoted to his other half.
Jim Carrey plays Steven Russell, a loving father, husband, and closet homosexual, all up until a life changing devastating car crash. Spitting blood and tired of the lies, he proclaims to the paramedics; “they’re gunna call me a faggot”. Though rolling the gay life late 70’s, early 80’s is expensive and without a second thought Steven ironically returns to lying and fraud for the glam and glitter of his ‘fresh gay start’. Inevitably he is thrown in jail where he meets his soul mate Phillip Morris (McGregor) and his life is changed forever.
The result is an incredible on screen-connection between two fabulous actors. McGregor is fantastic! His character is organic and true to his smallest mannerisms – the way he walks, talks, and holds a wine glass. The adaptation is truly well written, with great moments of hilarity and sadness, it is a wonderful love story well worth watching. Its only flaws; a lot of the humour comes from gay puns and jokes, and the film, like its lead character, is lost in what it is actually trying to be. Is it a romance? Comedy? Or Drama? Making the target audience for Phillip Morris very hard to define.
I cannot give enough praise to the writer/director duo, Ficarra and Requa (who gave us Bad Santa), for running the gauntlet with such a controversial film. Struggling to find a buyer after a well-received Sundance screening, the film has been met with constant funding and distribution problems and its release date is constantly being postponed in the states (though this has publicity stunt written all over it). All in all, the end product is a result of two filmmakers passionate for the art of telling an incredible love story, no matter the cost. I hope you too can fall in love with Phillip Morris.
Benjamin.
