SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS

US, 2010, 96 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Thornton, Mark Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, Laura Linney, Orlando Bloom, Noah Emmerich, James Karen, John Carroll Lynch, Robert Wisdom.
Directed by Mark Ruffalo.

Sympathy for Delicious was co-written by the two stars, Christopher Thornton (paraplegic in real life) and actor Mark Ruffalo. They had been friends for many years and worked on this project.

The film is an urban story, very American in tone. Christopher Thornton portrays a DJ, living on the street, particularly bitter. Mark Ruffalo plays Father Joe, a priest in the local parish who works for street people, especially in a soup kitchen, finding accommodation.

There is a background of Pentecostal religion, and one day the Christopher Thornton character discovers, by accident, that he has the power of healing. This has extraordinary consequences. The would-be DJ teams up with a band (including Orlando Bloom and Juliette Lewis as members, Laura Linney as hardboiled agent). Eventually, the healing is incorporated into the performance, but fails when Juliette Lewis takes an overdose and the paramedics are prevented from getting to her because of the possible healing, and she dies. Court cases ensue. The priest is enthralled by the healings and sets up an organisation for them, even agreeing to a special healing for a benefactor with a great deal of money.

For the DJ, the consequences are jail – though with a touch of miraculous ending. For the priest, he becomes disillusioned with what he has done, especially in terms of ambition and greed, and resigns from the priesthood. There are many good sequences and discussions between Father Joe and his parish priest, played by James Karen.

This is certainly an offbeat story for mainstream American film-making – but interesting in performance, in issues, the reflection on priesthood, the nature of the miraculous.

1. The experience of the writer, his being a paraplegic? His performance? The director, friendship with the writer? A personal story?

2. The title, echoes of Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones and Sympathy for the Devil? The world of rock ‘n roll and bands? Dean as Delicious?

3. The world of Skid Row, the visuals, the streets, the street people, poverty, the soup kitchen, thieves, living in cars...?

4. The world of rock ‘n roll? The personalities and types? Appearance and clothes? Language? Drugs? The interview sequences, rehearsals, clashes? The role of the agent, strong-minded? Performances? The songs and the sounds?

5. The world of healing, the evangelist and his rousing speech, healings – and contrived? The actual healing by Dean, the introduction of this religious theme? Rene as his friend, crippled, wanting to be healed?

6. Dean, his age, experience, living in the car, needing food? The discussions with Father Joe? Stealing? Housing? The rally, the encounter with the man and his being healed? Rene and the faith? His touching experience, his reaction? Distancing himself from any kind of miraculous intervention? The numerous requests? The burning of the heat? His seeing this as difficult, the crowds coming, Father Joe calling it a gift? Discussions of faith, God? Miracles?

7. Father Joe, his work in the soup kitchen, dedication, his work in mission fields, sixteen years of priesthood? His trying to find a place for Dean? Outside the car? The healing, his amazement, the donations? Father Joe and his organising the crowds? The rich father and his offering of the donation? Joe and his reaction to the band, the healing, the money? Getting Dean into the hotel, the $47.50 for three days? Father Joe and his hopes?

8. Dean, the band, the meeting with Ariel, connecting with her? The DJ and the ousting? The invitation for him to come in, his surly attitude, the audition, the members of the band, The Stain and his reaction? The test, the burning? The relationship with Ariel, on and off? The performances? His becoming part of the group, playing, the healings? Ariel, the overdose, the paramedics, the failure, the reaction of the crowds?

9. The characters of the members of the band, Ariel, her age, singing, music, interactions with Dean, with the other members of the group, offhand, the drugs, her death? The Stain, his makeup, surliness? Nina, strong-minded, tough-talking?

10. Father Joe, the sixteen years, background of Africa, the work in Skid Row, doing good, pleasant personality, hard work? His presence in the streets, the presence of the church through him? His faith? The experience of the healing? The importance of the discussions with Father Rohn? With Dean present? The nature of miracles and prayer? Father Rohn and his suggesting that Joe make a retreat? The warning about what was happening to him? Issues of money, ambitions, his being disappointed in himself, talking with Dean, fighting with Dean, Dean’s accusation of hypocrisy? His going to the court, appearing in secular clothes? The issue of who was responsible for the healings? God? Going to the prison, the apology to Dean? Getting Dean a new job? Whether Joe should have left the priesthood or not?

11. Dean, his interactions with Joe, their clash, hypocrisy issues? Responsibilities? His speech?

12. Dean, his aggressive attitude, the response to Ariel’s death, his response in the court, going to prison, the issue of not hating Father Joe, the job? Seeing Rene in the store with his girlfriend, the clothes, the healing? Going out to work as a prisoner, painting? The irony of his not being on the list, getting the cassette in the shop, getting it free? His being out on his own? His future?

13. The combination of rock ‘n roll, religious issues? The nature of priesthood?