JACK
US, 1996, 113 minutes, Colour.
Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin, Jennifer Lopez, Bill Cosby.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
For a while in the 80s, we had a number of comedies where boys finished up in men's bodies, the best of which was Big with Tom Hanks. Now Robin Williams has his chance to do a Big turn, a ten year old in the body of a man of forty. However, the film is more serious in intent.
Jack has a rare disease that means that his body grows four times faster than normal. His parents keep him at home and educate him with a tutor (Bill Cosby). But Jack does not want to be alone; he wants to go to school. The film shows us what happens: the curiosity and cruelty of the children, the making of friendships, the oddity of looking four times older than you are.
At the end the film has some sentimental speeches (and critics have been severe on the emotional tone of the film). But, if we were in the same situations, how would we respond? Feelingly? Unfeelingly? Robin Williams gives one of his more controlled performances which makes his Jack more believable. The film is directed by Francis Ford Coppola and one of his earlier films sums up this one, One from the Heart.
1. The title, the focus on Jack, his physical condition, the child and an adult body, his parents and their care, the nature of parenting this child, the tutor the education, the risk in the boy’s going to school, the other children, taunts, friendship, the support of teacher?
2. The American city, homes, schools, situations, sequences in bars, the graduation? The musical score?
3. Robin Williams, his screen presence, his skill in performing unusual roles? The blend of comedy and pathos?
4. The condition, the facts, the explanations, the role of the doctors, Jack’s birth, his parents, the diagnosis, seeing him at ten, ageing at four times the rate of his age, physical changes, psychological aspects of a 10-year-old in such a body? The tutor and the bond? The treehouse, play, too many, the collapse of the treehouse, the final tutoring, the goals of education? Playing with his parents and their delight in their boy?
5. School, his wanting to go, the decision, his loneliness at home, the strong bond with each of his parents, their care and communication? His mother taking to school, the fuss? The principal introducing him to the teacher? Miss Marquez, the humour, too big to the desk, the yard, the boys and the gangs, the basketball, the two girls and their interrogating him as a freak? Miss Marquez and her care?
6. Playing basketball, wanting baskets at home, his skill, size, winning? The bonds with the group of boys, led by Louis? The girls and their curiosity turning to friendship? Everyone at the treehouse? His buying the sex magazines for the boys? The collapse of the treehouse?
7. The boys themselves, Louis, leader, his eccentric mother, her arrival, Jack pretending to be the principal, improvising, the effect?
8. His relationship with Miss Marques, the serious invitation to take her out, the effect on her, having to be firm, his disappointment?
9. His collapse at school, the pressure, the doctor’s reaction, his being taken out of school, his watching the children come to the house, his mother sending them away?
10. His going to the bar, the encounter with Paul, the friendship, the talk, the drinks? Dolores seeing him, her presuming he was the principal, talking, the dance, is imitating the others, her response? The accident, knocking the man, the build-up to the fight? Dolores taking him home?
11. The dramatics and the emotions, Jack coping with his body, the shaving sequences, growing his beard, people thinking he was the giant? The psychological repercussions and demands?
12. The seven years passing, his continuing at school, his being older, looking older, the crowd, his valedictory speech, his perspectives on life and its being short?
13. The finale, with the kids, his being accepted, having a happy life, the pride of his parents, the tutor?
