DOMINICK AND EUGENE
US, 1988, 104 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hulce, Ray Liotta, Jamie Lee Curtis, David Strathairn.
Directed by Robert M.Young.
Dominick and Eugene is a pleasing drama, set in Pittsburgh. It portrays two brothers, one who has suffered an accident in childhood and has a simple trustful approach to life; the other is an intense medical student. Nicky, played by Tom Hulce, is the gentle brother; Ray Liotta is the intense Eugene. Jamie Lee Curtis is Eugene's girlfriend, also a medical student.
The film is full of sentiment and strong American feeling. However, it has a strong, sometimes sharp, edge because of the performances of Hulce and Liotta. The film becomes somewhat melodramatic towards the end (perhaps American style). The film was directed by Robert M. Young (Short Eyes, Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Extremities).
1. Enjoyable film? Humane? Emotion?
2. The Pittsburgh locations, the city, the homes? The credits sequences and the city? Places and streets? Musical score?
3. The introduction to each brother: the hospital work, at home, waking up? The sequence of the telling of the story, the memory? And their mother's grave? The bond between the two, their age, growth together, protection and care, financial situation, changes?
4. Tom Hulce's portrait of Nicky: at home, meals and work around the house, Eugene and his study? Larry and his friendship, at work, the stories, influence? Kindness? The boss? Mike and the comics? At the tip, friends, the pizza? Eating with Mrs Gianelli? The bonds with Gene? Not getting upset, responding to people, the drug deal? Jennifer and his reaction? Coffee? The picnic? Larry and the stories? The church and Father T? The birthday and his enjoying it, the pizza, the tickets, phone? The visit to Mrs Vinson with Larry? Dancing, drinking? The reaction about Jennifer, angers and hurt? Mike's story, his father? The realisation? The church and anger? The gun, running? The care with the baby, with Gene and coming down, the police? The truth about his father beating him? Being let go? Happy ending? The personal handicap, his personality?
5. Gene and his hospital work, the hours, at home, caring for Nicky? Kit, relationship with Larry? The drugs episode? Telling the story about their parents? The intimacy at home, the shower, bedroom? Studying with Jennifer? His love for her, inability to commit himself? At home, realisations about himself, his future, his own personality, angers? The meal? The birthday and the celebration? The build-up to Nicky's taking the child? Talking him down, telling the truth, his own fears about his violence? The decision to go to Stanford and study?
6. Jennifer, pleasant woman, relationship with Gene, studying, medicine, observing? The meal, picnic? The potential for jealousy? The ending?
7. Mike, his father, the attack, his death in hospital? the baby? Mike's father and his brutality? Nicky with the baby? Rescue?
8. Larry, friendship, type, the buddy, talk? His relationship with Mrs Vinson? Birthday? Sex talk, in action? Television? The end? Their work for Mr Johnson, his interest in the various men who worked for him?
9. Mrs Gianelli, friendship, meals, neighbourly? Her care for Nicky? Looking after him for the future? The church, Father T and his friendship and support?
10. A slice of American life, sentiment, hurt? Melodrama? Possibilities for the future?
