Feature
Review | Abandon
Written by: Brian
Orndorf
Yet another film you can blame on the SAG strike scare of 2001 on.
“Abandon” went in front of the cameras (much like “Showtime,”
“40 Days And 40 Nights,” and many other films this year) without a
polished script, an untested lead talent, and a shaky first time
director to guide it through. It should come as no shock that the film
doesn’t work. But what does surprise is that there are so many
talented people in this mess that can‘t save the film with their own
powers.
Catherine Burke (Katie Holmes, “Dawson’s Creek”) is in her
final stages of college life. With finals coming, job prospects
popping up everywhere, and her thesis giving her problems due to
writer’s block, Catherine is coming apart at the seams. In walks
Detective Wade Handler (Benjamin Bratt, “Pinero”), with a handful
of questions about a former flame named Embry Langan (Charlie Hunnam,
from Fox’s much missed TV show “Undeclared”) who disappeared two
years prior. Catherine has no new information for the cop, but when
the memories of this past affair are reopened, she literally begins to
see Embry everywhere she looks, leading her to believe that he might
be back in her life for real this time.
“Abandon” is director Stephen Gaghan’s attempt to weave Roman
Polanski histrionics with turgid romantic and investigative subplots
that go absolutely nowhere. Gaghan is the recent recipient of an
Academy Award for his work in adapting the British miniseries
“Traffik” to the big screen in 2000. So does this make him
qualified to helm a feature film? That answer would be a resounding
no, as Gaghan has no control over anything in his own film. Mood,
performance, even his cinematography (the film looks lit by an
underwater Sea World lighting system) is downbeat and lackluster.
Since Gaghan also wrote the script, one would think he would be the
best man for the directing job. Gaghan knows very little about pace
and suspense, and in a pro’s hands, “Abandon‘s” loose story of
paranoia and mystery might’ve shown some signs of precious life on
screen. In Gaghan’s hands, “Abandon” is unrelentingly sluggish,
and takes a full 75 minutes before anything of note occurs. Far too
long for any self-respecting thriller to start cooking.
Though she received a career high paycheck for her appearance in
“Abandon,” I’m not terribly convinced that Katie Holmes has the
poise yet for leading roles. She’s been grand with supporting parts
in “The Gift” and “Go,” but Holmes has a sticky sweet
sensuality that doesn’t fit in here with Gaghan’s overall plans
for the character. She’s as good as she can be in this confusing
role, but she doesn’t add up to much. Neither do co-stars Bratt and
Hunnam. They also share meticulously planned roles in Gaghan’s
script, but in the final film, the characters make little sense,
either in placement or motivation.
In an effort to make all the tedium worthwhile, Gaghan has thrown
in a curt little Shyamalan-like twist ending to pay off his story.
It’s nice, but unearned. A case of too little, too late, and a
painful reminder that “Abandon” might’ve contained more power,
had it been allowed just a little more time to develop rather than
being rushed into production.
For a film about investigation, the only question I found myself
asking after “Abandon” finished was simply, is it too late to get
that Oscar back from Gaghan?
Grade: 1 out of 10
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COMMENTS
Date/Time of Posting: Oct 18 2002 / 05:12:38
IP Address: 24.154.91.83
name = Steve
Email = movieman129@hotmail.com
comments = Ouch.. 1/10. Must have been pretty bad - that's a shame, I
thought it looked pretty interesting. Might have to see it for myself,
still.
(After 'The Ring' that is..)
Date/Time of Posting: Oct 20 2002 / 19:29:28
IP Address: 205.188.209.176
name = Chelsea
Email = Fitchroxy@aol.com
comments = Where can i get a copy of the script? I'm doing a
review on it for my Filmmaking class? I checked a ton of sites
do you know one in particular?
Thanks,
fitchroxy@aol.com
Date/Time of Posting: Oct 20 2002 /
20:46:10
IP Address: 128.12.180.97
name = Nick
Email = ashworr@hotmail.com
comments = Review of Abandon
I disagree whole heartedly. This film weaves the talents and
stories of those associated with it into a beautiful tapestry of
character study. Gagan paints the lead, Katlie Holmes, with
colours not far off hue from the truth. With a penchant for
singing and the hidden desire to attend an ivy league college and
prove her obvious intelligence, the real Katie Holmes fits well the
portrait of an ivy league college student who uses the excuse of a
choir group to meet the boy, Embry. Gagan's own thoughts and
character are portrayed by Bratt who plays a former substance abuser
turned uncomplacent cop. The college students surrounding Katie
and Bratt are so well depicted it's as if Gagan just went to college
and picked up five interesting college seniors and brought them to the
set to be Katie's friends. Her roommate in particular is so
vivid you're almost convinced you went to college with her. The
best thing about this movie is that you find out things about the
characters as the movie goes along filling the movie with exposition
and making the conflict all the more believable in the end. It
would be wrong to call this movie a thriller; it is more just a story
about people you probably know and can identify with and themes we all
deal with: pressure, drugs, addiction, abandonment, and seduction.
Any male of red blood cannot help but be attracted to Katie Holmes'
character. Not a big fan, I thought it would be hard for this
gawky, stuck-up-but-trying-not-to-show-it actress to carry a film, but
the part is written so for her yet totally against type that Katie is
able to create an entirely new character separate from Joey Potter and
yet oddly reminiscent thereof.
Best about this film (besides the supporting characters) are Gagan's
innovations in storytelling and his use of music to add depth to his
scenes. One feels that the psychological layers and nuances of
classic novels such as Crime and Punishment, and Ulysses, if handled
by hollywood, should be handled in the manner in which Gagan and his
stylistic cousin (Darian Aronofsky) handle their material.
Indeed, Abandon's soundtrack tips it's hat to great soundtracks like
those of Pi, Requeim for a Dream and Vanilla Sky.
The only problem with Abandon is that it seems to condone and
romanticize recreational drug use. This would be fine for any
other writer/director, but Gagan forgets that he wrote Traffic.
If there were any ambiguity present in Traffic regarding drug use,
then Abandon tips the scales. There is this one scenes where the
characters are doing ecstacy (this is implied, but obvious to anyone
under 30) when Katie says bemusedly "I feel so connected.
Why can't I feel like this all the time?" Gagan seems to
miss his days of doing drugs, or, reluctant to leave them behind as a
story device.
Date/Time of Posting: Oct 22 2002 / 18:36:26
IP Address: 63.169.217.88
name = Dori
Email = doribelle_99@hotmail.com
comments = I thought Abandon was good. I do agree with the whole took
too long to get anywhere and there were some plot holes but i thought
it was an overall good movie. Of course Katie was a little shaky it
was her first performance in a starring role, but you have to start
somewhere. I highly recommend everyone to see this movie. The ending
is incredibly clever!
Date/Time of Posting: Nov 03 2002 / 19:35:53
IP Address: 142.177.218.226
name = Effguy
Email = semiperfect@hotmail.com
comments = I can't possibly say enough bad things about this movie.
I went into it after deciding I'd rather not waste 10 bucks to go see
Jackass or I Spy. Boy, was that a mistake. I said to my
friends as I was walking in, if this turns out to be another snorefest
like Signs (the last movie I went to see) then I'm walking out before
it's finished.
I left with about 20 minutes remaining anyways. I sat in the car
and when my friends came out, I was pretty much able to tell them
everything that happened without having seen a trailer, read any
reviews online or even witnessing any previews at all for this film.
*spoiler*She's a psycho, she killed him and the cop too right?
How did you know? It's been done. Too many times already.
I know it's probably overly critical on my part but words really can't
do justice.
I'd be willing to place a wager that the same critics that gave a
positive review for this movie also gave positive reviews for Murder
By Numbers and Signs.
I guess I'll just have to go out drinking or something as opposed to
going to the movies anymore. Whatever it was that contributed to
the awful movies this summer seems to be continuing straight through
to Christmas.
Date/Time of Posting: Nov 03 2002 / 22:28:46
IP Address: 209.52.199.213
name = Sarah
Email = cutie2_666@hotmail.com
comments = I thought Abandon was a very good movie. I was
shocked to see that so many reviews tore the shit out of it.
What the hell do they expect from rookie leading actors?
Considering this was a first for 'Holmes' and 'Hunnam' (although
Hunnam is not a lead), I think they did very well in it. I think
the critics should have watched it with more of an open mind.
Honestly, yes, they could have gotten to the point a little quicker,
but it was my understanding that a mystery/thriller is supposed to
keep you on your toes and not give away the ending! That's the
whole point behind plot development. The college life was
depicted very well in this movie, and I do not believe that the acting
was done poorly in this respect. 'Brat's' character could have
been developed a little more than it was, but none the less, he was
not meant to be a very main character; his background wasn't supposed
to be important, except the fact that it was supposed to be known he
is a recovering alcoholic. 'Holmes' played the stressed out
college student as if she really was one. Come on, doesn't
anybody remember college life? Or have we gotten so involved
with life and careers that we have to rip apart someone's role because
it wasn't exactly your college experience? I think it was a good
movie, and I think these 'critics' need to loosen their jocks a
little...
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2002
Time: 1:20 AM EST
Subject: Feedback
name: Sarah
email: sarahvale@telus.net
to: question
comments: I've been looking everywhere, and I don't think that the
movie 'Abandon' has an actual soundtrack. I was wondering if
they do actually have a soundtrack, and if not, if you would happen to
know the name and artist of the song playing during the movie while
they're all tripping out on drugs with the strobe light... please get
back to me.
Reply from User: Date/Time of Posting: Nov 13 2002 /
09:23:44
IP Address: 216.240.69.197
name = brandi
Email = bkirk78@shawneelink.com
comments = To reply to Sarah, I've also looked for a soundtrack and
haven't been able to find one, but the name of the song playing when
they're tripping is Kettle Whistle by Jane's Addiction. The name of
the album it's on is also called Kettle Whistle.
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