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Brian Dennehy, who died just three weeks ago, left a gift for movie fans with one of his last appearances in the simple but truly moving indie drama. Driveways. Arriving at a time when many are desperate for human connection, the film could be the perfect antidote, even for its short 83-minute duration.
Dennehy, proving that we have just lost one of our best actors, plays heartwarming Del, a veteran Korean War widower in his 80s who lives next door to a house that belonged to Kathy’s (Hong Chau) deceased sister. , who arrives in the neighborhood with 8-year-old son Cody (Lucas Jaye) in tow to clean and sell his brother’s house. What he discovers is that his sister was a true pack rat, since the place is almost uninhabitable. This begins the long process of putting it in shape for sale.
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Meanwhile, Cody wanders next door and makes an unlikely friendship with Del, and while they are eight decades apart, they have more in common than most best friends. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that director Andrew Ahn and writers Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen are becoming more interested in the little things that make life worthwhile, the little memories we make when we need them most, and in what unites us. that what separates us This is the ideal movie for this moment, even if you don’t realize it until its unique charms follow you when you least expect them to appear.
Dennehy is simply perfection here as an octogenarian who lives his remaining years, playing bingo in the VFW room with old friends like Rodger (Jerry Adler), who is slowly entering dementia, and also there for a sensitive soul like Cody. The boy could use some friends himself, even while participating in impromptu wrestling matches with the kids in this neighborhood, the same ones he invites to his birthday party as the skating rink, only to discover that Del is his only friend. that appears.
‘Driveways’: first video from Berlin drama produced by James Schamus starring Hong Chau and Brian Dennehy
One of the best scenes from the movie happens right after, as Del suggests a better location for the boy’s big day and takes him and Kathy to their bingo game for a birthday that Cody will never forget. A scene on Del’s front porch towards the end of the movie will probably make you cry as he recounts his regrets and offers Cody wise advice. Saying more would spoil it, but as long as there’s a compilation of great moments in Dennehy’s career, this scene should be included, an award-worthy moment if there ever was one.
Chau is exceptional in a very different kind of role than his breakup a few years ago in Alexander Payne. Staff reduction, while Christine Ebersole has some funny neighbor scenes with a habit of not knowing exactly when to stop talking. Young Jaye is totally natural like Cody and is part of the reason this movie works so well that it grabs the heart when it’s needed most. James Schamus, Celine Rattray, Joe Pirro and Nicolaas Bertelsen are the producers. FilmRise opens it this week on VOD and digital after its premiere a year ago at the Berlin Film Festival. Check out my video review with scenes from the movie at the link above.
Do you plan to see Driveways? Let us know what you think.
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