28 DAYS
US, 2000, 98 minutes, Colour.
Sandra Bullock, Viggo Mortensen, Dominic West, Steve Buscemi, Elizabeth Perkins, Alan Tudyk, Dianne Ladd, Azura Skye, Rene Santoni.
Directed by Betty Thomas.
28 Days is a star vehicle for Sandra Bullock who had emerged as a star celebrity in the mid-nineties. This film came before Miss Congeniality.
This is a message film about irresponsibility and addiction. It is also a film about rehabilitation.\
Sandra Bullock portrays Gwen, a party girl with her partner, played by Dominic West. After a series of stupid incidents at her sister’s wedding, she is put in rehabilitation for 28 days, quite unwillingly and hostile.
The rehabilitation centre is presented in a somewhat satiric tone as well as serious. Very American-extroverted.
After warnings, hostility, clashes with other patients, she eventually settles down, begins to face her life, asking help from her sister, Elizabeth Perkins. In flashbacks it is revealed that the two girls had a very poor upbringing, a fun-loving irresponsible mother who became a deadly role model for her daughter.
There is an interesting supporting cast of people at the institution, Margo Martindale as the sardonic receptionist, Steve Buscemi as a counselor, Viggo Mortensen as a baseball player in treatment, Alan Tudyk as an eccentric homosexual, Diane Ladd and Marianne Jean–Baptiste?.
Sandra Bullock is a strong screen presence, alienating when irresponsible, charming when taking hold of her life.
1. A message entertainment film? The target audiences? Young adults?
2. The film as a Sandra Bullock vehicle? Her credibility in the role? Portrayal of an irresponsible life? Explanations? Rehabilitation?
3. The wild-party kind of life, the visuals, the party, the colour style of the flashbacks? The importance of the flashback to her wedding speech, the relationship between Gwen and Jasper?
4. The city, apartments, interiors, clubs? The contrast with the institution, the interiors, the rooms, the grounds and parks? The musical score?
5. The introduction to Gwen, with Jasper, the parties, her drinking, the drugs? The apartment together? Waking for the wedding, her physical condition, emotions? Running late, the reckless driving and the laughing? The veil and problems? Lily, glaring at her? Gwen’s rudeness, reckless dancing and having people, the woman sitting on the food, the fall, the cake and her laughing? Lily’s humiliation? Stealing the car, reckless, the crash into the house?
6. Her being taken to the institution, the ironic welcome, the chanting, her womb, sharing it with Andrea? The serious presentation of the centre, the satirical touches, especially with American extroversion?
7. Gwen it as a character, her reactions to the institution, coming to awareness of her irresponsibility and her not hearing? Jasper and his compounding her condition? Indulging her? The flashbacks throughout the film, her mother, the drinking, having fun, the two little girls, licentious way of living, her death, her being a role model?
8. Her reaction to people, Daniel and his hostility, Gerhard, the man with the sex addiction, the older women, the African American woman? The facilitator and her style at meetings? Gwen at meetings, initially hostile, reaction to talk, the language of feelings, the prayer? Her needing cigarettes, the encounter with the counselor at the lake, her being caught out, his threats, the possibility of prison? Her desperation, getting out the window, on the tree, falling?
9. Her needs, getting to rock bottom? Her asking Lily to come to a session, the refusal, her later coming, participating, fighting impossible, walking out?
10. The sessions, her gradually changing, angry outburst of feeling and the group applauding, growing up? Her discussions with Andrea? Andea’s character, her story, young, cutting herself, preparing to leave, her love for the soap opera, the satirical performance? Her overdose? The effect on Gwen?
11. Jasper, his visits, his character, playboy, taking her out, drinking, breaking the rules, her return? His proposal on the lake, her reaction, to the timing, throwing the champagne overboard? His finding Gwen with Eddie, his being upset? Gwen explaining? Her leaving, meeting her, the celebration, the invitation to the party, her refusal, his being embarrassed, her farewell, his attempting to follow, but not?
12. The other members of the group, Gerhard, gay, his accent, his interventions, emotions? The older woman? The African American woman, her telling Gwen off, the role plays with her children? The man obsessed with sex, the elevators? Daniel, mellowing, his bitterness and leaving, his return?
13. Watching the soap opera, the decision to put on the play? Gerhard and his being Falcon? Gwen being the heroine, the doctor and his intervention, played by Daniel?
14. The meetings, Gwen going deeper, accepting some responsibility, being more pleasant?
15. Eddie, his arriving back, picking her up, his not remembering? His reputation, sports, addictions? Discussions with Gwen? The outing and, visiting the stables, everybody trying to lift the horses leg, as a sign of their approach to themselves? The autographs? The kiss? Jasper finding him? The sexual encounter, failure, coming to her the car, wanting to keep contact?
16. The soap opera, Andrea, Eddie and the others watching? Laughing at the absurd behavior and characters? The illnesses? An opportunity to for them to laugh at themselves? The reenactment?
17. The talks, the testimonies, especially that of Steve Buscemi as the counselor? His own life and experience?
18. Gwen, discussions with Lily, remembering their past, a reconciliation? The break from Jasper? On the street, the horse, Her being able to lift its lead? A symbol of healing?
19. Rehabilitation in 28 days? Possible? An encouragement?
