STRAIGHT A’s

US, 2013, 85 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Phillippe, Anna Paquin, Luke Wilson, Thomas Riley Stewart, the Ursula Parker, Tess Harper, Powers Boothe.
Directed by James Cox.

Straight A’s is a brief film which had little release. It is a star vehicle for Ryan Phillippe who makes the most of his role, a mixture of endearing and irresponsible. He portrays Scott, a man in his 30s, who has been in institutions, has a past history of drugs. His love was for his high school sweetheart, Anna Paquin, but when he moved out after a dispute with his brother and father, she married his brother, Luke Wilson. However, the marriage has gone stale, she has become very haughty, he is wrapped up in his business, the children are overlooked. They are well played by Thomas Riley Stewart and Ursula Parker. Powers Boothe is the father.

The film is entertaining when it focuses on Scott, despite his unreliability and the ups and downs in his dealing with his family. Anna Paquin has to mellow. Luke Wilson has to get some hold on his life.

The title is not exactly clear although the little boy does have straight 80s in his reports. By the end, Scott with his interventions in the family, has some straight 80s of his own. The end of the film is a touch downbeat. It was directed by James Cox, director of a range of films that touch on show business, Rock Star and Wonderland. He also directed the offbeat, and off-putting, Highway.

1. The title, as applied to Charles, to Scott?

2. An American slice of life, briefly presented?

3. The locations, the mansion and its surroundings, Louisiana and Shreveport? Schools, hotels, casinos, pool halls? Realism? The score?

4. The picture of the Henderson family, Bill and his being busy and away, Katherine and her harsh manner, the place of the children? The servants? An American family, well-off? Scott and his being different? His intervening? His father and Alzheimer’s?

5. The focus on Scott, audience interest in him, engaging personality despite his difficulties? His look, riding the horse, the explanation that he could not drive? His past, high school, with Katherine, clash with his father, leaving, the institutions? His love for Katherine? Drug-taking? His mother, concern for his father, hallucinations and her urging him to go to his father? His father, his mind, memory, getting the guns? His carer and her looking after him? Katherine and her antagonism, the change, and Scot’s leaving? The clash with Bill? Scott and the bond with Charles, the irony that he really was his son? The little girl and her play, Charles and his bonding with Scott, Scott going to the school, the reprimand from the principal? His being late for dinner, the bath, not realising people wanted him there? Not reliable? Going out, drinking, playing pool, getting the crowd to party at the pool, Katherine’s anger and his leaving? Arriving for Charles’ speech? His advice to look at someone who appreciated him, then another, and another and that happening with the family? The meal and the father coming, the reading of his wife’s journal, the truth revealed? Scott and his fit, the hospital, the vigil by all the family? His death and funeral?

6. Katherine, after 10 years, becoming very haughty, shopping, gossiping? The change with her cooking and the maid surprised? The disappointment in Scott, the rules? Her relationship with her children, strained? Her anger at Scott, memories of his possibilities? Bill, her phone calls, everybody at the hospital? Her response to Scott’s death? The reconciliation with bill, declarations of love?

7. Bill, his life, the stale marriage, being away, his job, his success, the meeting and his promotion? His friends, the woman at the meeting, passed friendship, playing verbal games, the partying, the police and their departure? The phone call from Katherine? His return home, anger at Scott, the truth, love for Katherine? Charles and his advice? Building the stable for Scott’s horse?

8. Charles, his age, style, proper, at school, the teacher and his speech? Scott and the lunch? Scott paying for the drinks for the little girl – and her thanks to Charles? His being upset at Scott missing the meal, bonding, the speech, the hints for winning over the audience, his success? Gracie and her age, the house, full of life?

9. The father, the past clashes, Alzheimer’s, his carer, getting the gun? Going to the meal, a move towards reconciliation?

10. Interesting and enjoyable? A small film?