Viggo
Mortensen, it goes without saying, is one of our generation’s greatest
actors. One of those actors whose
presence in a film can elevate a picture significantly, the multiple Oscar
nominated performer comes to us now with his first foray into writing and filmmaking
with his directorial debut and labor of love Falling. Semi-autobiographical in size and focus, Mortensen
also stars as John Peterson, a middle-aged gay man living with his husband Eric
(Terry Chen) and adopted daughter Monica in California. Willis Peterson (Lance Henriksen), John’s old
fashioned and short-tempered father living in upstate New York, begins to
exhibit signs of early dementia. Alerted
to his declining health, John intervenes by bringing his father back to
California with him, but not the angry old man puts up an endless and
increasingly mean fight over it.
At
times difficult to watch the loyal and caring son John take so much abuse from
his cantankerous father Willis, Falling can be an immensely affecting
drama to take in. This is due in large
part to an astonishing central performance from Lance Henriksen who has always
been a great character actor over the last few decades who completely comes
into his own here. It’s a raw,
embittered, frightening performance to be in the presence of as Henriksen
conjures up darker weathers I never knew the actor had. In addition to being a great actor, Viggo
Mortensen proves to be an assured writer-director as well with visual
composition both precise and painterly.
Mortensen also composes the film’s original score which throws a quiet,
somber mood over the proceedings.
Mortensen,
a longtime friend and collaborator with writer-director David Cronenberg, not
only uses the director in a choice cameo appearance mid-picture but also many
of the director’s collaborators as well.
Edited sharply by longtime Cronenberg editor Ronald Sanders with casting
director Diedre Bowen on board as well, Mortensen utilizes a good chunk of
Cronenberg’s entourage. Knowing the
director’s history with Mortensen in three career best performances in A
History of Violence, Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Method,
seeing him come on board with Mortensen’s film was a most exciting surprise.
For
anyone who has or had a difficult parent in their lives, Falling will
hit close to home and can occasionally be hard to take. The performances across the board, however,
coupled with Mortensen’s own gifts for filmmaking make for a compelling drama
that absolutely brings the struggle between parent and caring child to
life. While there have been dramas about
dealing with a parent’s aging and physical as well as psychological deterioration,
few resonate quite as strongly as this one with Henriksen giving what is
obviously the performance of his career.
Hard and heavy viewing but in the end a most rewarding experience and a
good start at first time film directing for Mortensen.
--Andrew Kotwicki
