THE GREATEST
US, 2009, 99 minutes. Colour.
Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, Aaron Johnson, Johnny Simmons, Michael Shannon, Jennifer Ehle, Zoe Kravitz.
Directed by Shana Feste.
The Greatest does not really seem to be an appropriate title for this film. With memories of Mohammed Ali, this is a more modest film about a family and its grief. They do consider their dead son the greatest.
Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon are the parents of two sons. They idolise the older son. He gets on well with his brother, but there is some rivalry – and a touch of resentment from the younger son. Unbeknown to his parents, he has been attracted to a young student and has fallen in love. At the opening of the film we see a tragic car crash and the death of the young man.
The film focuses on a family dealing with grief, Susan Sarandon giving an all-out performance as the obsessively grieving mother, determined to find out what the last moments of her son’s life were like. Pierce Brosnan is more laidback as the father, who has had another relationship with a colleague at the university (Jennifer Ehle) in his past. Carey Mulligan who was to emerge as a strong actress in An Education is the young woman. There is an interesting supporting cast with Aaron Johnson (The Nowhere Boy, Kick Ass) as the dead son, Johnny Simmons as his brother. The ever-sinister Michael Shannon is the man responsible for the accident. There is also a subplot where the younger brother goes to counselling sessions and encounters a strange young woman played by Zoe Kravitz.
This is a film that was not popular – yet probably reflects so many facets of ordinary people’s experiences.
1. A film of family, death, grief? Pregnancy and birth?
2. Audiences identifying with the characters, the situations? The older generation, the younger? Depending on experience?
3. The ordinary settings, the town, homes, hospitals, university? The musical score?
4. The strong and varied cast?
5. The initial tone of the film: Bennett and Rose, the sexual encounter, their love, the drive, the music, stopping in the road – and the accident? The graphical depiction of the accident? Bennett and his survival for seventeen minutes? The role of the truck driver? Rose and her injuries?
6. Bennett’s parents, at home, the wake, Grace and her grief, Allen more quiet, the guests? Ryan and his reaction to his brother’s death?
7. The funeral, the words about Bennett? Rose and her presence?
8. Rose making herself known to Allen, the parents not knowing her, not knowing about Bennett having a relationship? Her pregnancy? Willingness and unwillingness to believe? Letting Rose stay in the room? Ryan and his discussions with Rose?
9. The portrait of Allen, his life, mathematics, his work at the university, the affair with Joan, relying on her? His apologies to Grace? The death of his son, inability to sleep? Finding some strength with Rose? The contrast to Grace with her intensity? His reaction to Ryan, his room, his collapse, going to hospital, finally weeping?
10. The contrast with Grace and her intensity, the mother’s love, possessive love? Continued weeping, Allen giving her the bell to ring to remind her of her son, her continued ringing of it? Her stance against Rose? Ignoring Ryan? The vigil at the bed of the truck driver? The discussion with the doctors, pestering him to know when the diver would come out of coma? Arguing, suspicious? The episode in the sea? Her collapse? Ousting Rose? Her decision to visit Jordan Walker in prison? Her pain, his description of Bennett’s death, his asking for Rose rather than for his mother, her having to face the truth that her son had another life, that she had to let go, explaining this to Allen?
11. The character of Rose, her background, study, falling in love with Bennett, the sexual encounters, the car, the effect of the crash? At the funeral? The visit, explaining her pregnancy, being invited to move in, relating to each of the family? Her depending on them? Her other friends and conversations? Grace and the edge? Her taking Allen out, to the party, Grace suspicious? Going to the movies? Her decision to leave, not wanting to be found, the family persuading her to return? Her being at home, their presence at the birth, accepting the child?
12. Ryan and his relationship with his brother, with his parents, the tension with his father, his mother ignoring him? Going to the group, listening to their stories about deaths, suicides? The girl and her sympathy, their going out together, sharing? His going to her house, discovering that she had been lying, his being upset? Going to his room? With his parents, finally admitting his admiration and love for his brother? His brother setting a standard, he himself failing?
13. Rose’s return, the care of the baby, giving birth? Birth and death, new life, bonding? The shared experience of each of the characters with each other? Audiences receiving insight and emotional satisfaction from this exploration?
