The Night Listener
This film is an adaption of an Armistead Maupin novel, in which Robin Williams plays radio host whose long-term male partner is leaving him. You get the general jist that Robin's partner was diagnosed with AIDS, and has cared for him throughout all the trials both good and bad. And when I say you get the jist, it is never officially stated by any characters that it is the case with certainty. I'm not sure why they pussy foot around the topic, I mean the author of the book is fucking gay and it's supposidly an autobiographical story. But somehow they go all after school special with the mention of AIDS. I mean in this day an age, who doesn't know what it is.
Anyways, that's not the story. Robin's agent, asks him to read a "well written" manuscript written by an abused 14 year old boy and begins to the boy on the phone and eventually decides he wants to meet him.
However, when Gabriel travels to Wisconsin to meet the boy, he finds only the childs guardian, who fobs him off with a number of reasons as to why Pete's not available. And as his relationship with Donna develops, Gabriel begins to suspect that something strange may be going on.
To mention any more about this phychological thriller would give away to much plot and the "not-twist" twist.
Final Thoughts: 6/10
Personally, the film felt a little short, glossed over the gay issues, and with 80ish mins long, came up a little short. The film wasn't awful though. Toni Collette is the main reason to see this, giving a performance that is probably better than the film deserves. Sandra Oh, get all the best lines, since her character seems to be the only one with a sense of humour. While Robin gets the shaft, no pun intended. It's not that he gives a bad performance it's just that the depth of his character doesn't provide for any real range in the film.
In point, i'd suggest giving the film a shot. It definately isn't the best adaption of an Armistead Maupin novel. I also cannot imagine anyone going out to buy this DVD.
Labels: 6/10, Robin Williams, The Night Listener, Toni Collette
