3/11/2009 9:22:00 AM 'Wendy and Lucy' brilliantly spare
Michelle Williams portrays Wendy in “Wendy and Lucy,” opening at the Rose Theatre this week. Williams received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for this role and an Oscar nomination for her part as Heath Ledger’s wife in “Brokeback Mountain.”
Walter “Wally”
Actor visits the Rose
Actor Walter Dalton appears at the Rose Theatre for a question-and-answer session following the Saturday, March 14 screening of "Wendy and Lucy" at 7:20 p.m.
Dalton has a long history of television and screen acting credits as well as writing for "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour," "Laverne & Shirley" and "Barney Miller."
By Kathie Meyer of The Leader
Ever been down and out with few options? Coming to the Rose Theatre this week is "Wendy and Lucy" - the story of a young woman and her dog on the road to Alaska, where better times are possible - a best feature nomination at the Independent Spirit Awards.
As it is, Wendy's problems can hardly get any worse. This ain't no Travels with Charley.
In the beginning, we find Wendy stopped in a small mill town in Oregon with only a couple hundred bucks to her name. Other than that, she's got a backpack, a 20-year-old Honda and a well mannered, trusting yellow dog named Lucy.
Soon, her car breaks down, she's arrested for shoplifting a can of dog food, and Lucy goes missing, leaving Wendy reduced to putting one foot in front of the other just to make it through both the day and night.
Like her own resources, friendly assistance is all too scarce. The security guard (Walter Dalton) who tells her she must move her car transforms into her best ally, willing to give her what he can - even though it's not much.
Although a native of Florida, filmmaker Kelly Reichart perfectly captures the independent, roving spirit of the Northwest, where it is still possible to find a deep silence and collect one's thoughts. An earlier Reichart film, "Old Joy," winner of the 2007 Tiger Award at the Rotterdam Festival, was also set in this region.
"Wendy and Lucy" is understandably considered one of Reichart's most powerful films yet. Few films are this spare - it is only 80 minutes in length - as Reichart has a surgeon's skill when it comes to editing, with only an atom's worth of back story. Clearly she understands the old saw of screenwriting that advises "enter late, leave early."
Wendy is played by Oscar-nominated Michelle Williams ("Brokeback Mountain"), whose hair is chopped into a do-it-yourself pixie cut and colored chestnut brown. She exudes little emotion throughout, leaving the audience to understand that Wendy, despite some wrong choices, is at least smart enough to know that going ballistic would only amplify her problems rather than help them. Her best female lead nomination for an Independent Spirit Award in this role was well deserved.
"Wendy and Lucy" is a must-see for aspiring independent filmmakers and all true film lovers for so many reasons: great storytelling, beautiful cinematography, brilliant directing and fine acting. For a film about a woman with so very little, "Wendy and Lucy" has much to offer.
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