THE GLASS HOUSE
US, 2001, 106 minutes. Colour.
Leelee Sobieski, Diane Lane, Stellan Skarsgard, Bruce Dern, Kathy Baker, Trevor Morgan, Chris Noth, Michael O’ Keefe, Gavin O’ Connor, Agnes Bruckner.
Directed by Daniel Sackheim.
The Glass House is set in affluent Los Angeles. Leelee Sobieski and Trevor Morgan are two children whose parents die in a car crash and are virtually adopted by sympathetic couple, Diane Lane and Stellan Skarsgard, who were friends of their parents. Their name is Glass – and they have a mansion which is built of glass.
Gradually suspicious behaviour emerges, Ruby (Sobieski) becomes suspicious, investigates what is happening, discovers a detailed plot against the children for getting their money. Stellan Skarsgard is both friendly and sinister, involved in all kinds of money difficulties. Diane Lane portrays a doctor who has become addicted to drugs. Bruce Dern appears as a sympathetic lawyer, later turning sinister. Kathy Baker is a social worker who is concerned about the children, Chris Noth is a sympathetic uncle.
With a strong cast, an interesting screenplay with its complexities, the film moves from drama to melodrama and a confrontationally violent ending.
1. Interest in the drama, the plot, the complexities, the thriller?
2. Los Angeles settings, the Valley, the affluence of Malibu, the glass house itself, interiors? School? The police? Realism? Heightened realism? The score?
3. The title, the Glasses, their home, creating family?
4. The introduction to the Bakers, the parents and their bonds between themselves, with the children, going out, the anniversary, the accident? The news? The effect on the children?
5. Ruby, her age, her life so far, the bonds with her parents, with Rhett, with her friends at school?
6. The funeral, the church, Rhett and his speech, Terry and his concern, Terry and Erin and their offer to take the children? Begleiter and his promises of help?
7. Going to the house, the lavish house, the children in one room, cramped, the meals and the gourmet style, calamari? Getting fast food for the children? Erin, her concern, Terry? Becoming guardians?
8. Begleiter, the information, the amount of money available, his offer to help, Ruby and her visit to his office, his kindness, the betrayal, his visiting Terry? The gangsters? Terry’s setting up Begleiter? His being killed?
9. Erin, her syringe, the diabetes? Terry and the meal in the restaurant with Ruby, the leaning over her for the seatbelt? Suspicions? Her essay on Hamlet, his completing it, the plagiarism from the internet?
10. Ruby at school, her friends, her worry, her not concentrating, wanting to write the essay on Hamlet, accused of cheating? The consequences?
11. Rhett, his age, bonds with Ruby, with Erin and Terry? Liking them? His playing the games? His lying to the social worker? Ruby and her anger with him?
12. The visit of the welfare officer, Nancy and her questions, looking over the house, listening to Ruby’s complaints, Terry and Erin offering reassuring answers?
13. The car, the information about the car and her parents’ death? Ruby’s investigation? Visiting Begleiter and his information? The bin, finding the letters about the school? Overhearing Terry? Erin and the drugs?
14. Ruby’s decision, taking Rhett, their escape, being caught, with Terry? In the car, put in the basement? Terry going to the bank – and finding the expose fax that Ruby had sent? Unable to get a loan?
15. Erin, her reaction, not wanting to continue with the children? Her death? Terry and his drinking? The thugs arriving, their threats, Begleiter’s death?
16. The car, the flat tyres, riding in the alternate car, the gears, the brake? The crash down the mountainside? The children and their confrontation with Terry, his reappearance? Driving into him?
17. The uncle, his visit at the funeral, his promises to them, the happy ending for the children?
18. The drama turning into melodrama – credible? Entertaining?
