BENNY & JOON
Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn, Julianne Moore, Oliver Platt, C.C.H. Pounder, Dan Hedaya, Joe Grifasi, William H. Macy, Eileen Ryan.
Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik.
A light story with serious undertones. Benny (Aidan Quinn) is a motor mechanic in his thirties who cares for his mentally handicapped sister, Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson). Into their lives comes an eccentrically fey young man, Sam, played as a would-be Buster Keaton by Johnny Depp.
You might be able to predict what happens, but the easygoing atmosphere which becomes charged with concern and the need to make decisions about autonomy and who has the responsibility for living out lives, makes for some thoughtful entertainment at a very popular level.
The director Jeremiah S. Chechik went on to make the adaptation of the French classic, Les Diaboliques, with Isabel Adjani and Sharon Stone.
1. A film about people? Humanity? Disabilities? Mental illness and coping? Relationships?
2. The Spokane setting, the city, the homes, the shops? The musical score? Five Hundred Miles?
3. The title, the relationship of brother and sister? Sam entering into their world?
4. The opening credits, Sam, the Buster Keaton study and imitations? Joon and her painting? Benny and his work?
5. Their ordinary life, Benny, as a character, his friends, the card games, the bets, work, the phone calls and the messages? Joon, her character, her mental illness, inability to cope? Her painting? The housekeeper? The doctor and advice?
6. The accident, Benny and his devotion, Joon and her health, the traffic, her moods, talking, the bonds? Benny alone, the girl in the car, no date?
7. The game, losing, Sam having to come into the house, Benny’s reaction, taking him in?
8. Sam and his character, quiet, his sense of freedom, with Benny, with Joon? The hat trick, the tray, being at home in the house, creating bonds? Going out, his tricks and people’s response? Change in him? His age, appearance?
9. Sam and the attraction to Joon, understanding her, asking many questions about her health, the relationship, the sexual relationship, not talking about it?
10. Benny and his reaction, his confronting Sam, ousting him? Joon and running away, the bus, handling the situation? Benny’s reaction?
11. Benny and Ruth, going out, the awkwardness, problems, Ruth and the apartment?
12. Joon, in hospital, Sam’s return, the video shop, at home, the hat? Benny and his talking, Joon and her being hurt, Sam and the swing? The doctor’s opinion?
13. The minor characters, their contribution to understanding Joon, to understanding Sam? The issues of mental health, how debilitating, a disability, coping? The film not doing an analysis of Joon’s ailments, not doing diagnoses, not probing the questions of whether she should be in an institution or not?
14. Themes of love, trust, care, dependency, freedom?
