LEAVES OF GRASS

US, 2009, 105 minutes, Colour.
Edward Norton, Tim Blake Nelson, Keri Russell, Susan Sarandon, Melanie Lynskey, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Ty Burrell, Josh Pais, Richard Dreyfus.
Directed by Tim Blake Nelson.

Leaves of Grass is the title of the book of poems by Walt Whitman. It is seen during this film. But there is another meaning of grass, that of marijuana.

That this is the story of twin brothers, both played by Edward Norton, outstanding performances as each of the brothers. They come from Little Dixie in Oklahoma, with hippy parents and a poor way of life. One twin, Billy, loses his accent, follows his love of reading and academia and moves East, eventually lecturing at a university, with the prospects of moving to Harvard with his own centre for philosophy and law. The other brother, Brady, stays local and is involved in drug networks, also developing his own hydroponic marijuana.

Brady invites Billy back to Oklahoma, pretending a crisis. He really wants Billy to be years alibi when he goes to Tulsa and he and his buddy, Bolger (Tim Blake Nelson who wrote the screenplay as well as directing) shoot the head of the drug distribution, a respectable Jewish leader (Richard Dreyfus), while his brother is seen visiting their mother, Susan Sarandon, at a residence for the elderly.

An unexpected complication arises when an orthodontist, Josh Pais, who had talked to Billy on the plane to Oklahoma, realises what has happened, buys a gun, demands money – which leads to fatal shootouts.

The film is interesting in its well-written screenplay, the contrast between the two brothers and their choices in life.

1. The title, the reference to Walt Whitman and poetry? The contrast with grass and marijuana? The interconnecting of the two themes?

2. Edward Norton, the tour-de-force of his double performance, the two characters? Origins in Oklahoma, Little Dixie? Memories of the past, their father, the drugs, his death, their mother wondering whether he intended this rather than living with her? The mother, hippie, not caring for her sons, drugs, permissive? Growing older, her life in the home? Billy, his decision to change, his continual academic interest, getting more knowledge, changing his accent, going east, his degree, teaching, his reputation, his publications, and Brady reading them all, their mother with the magazines? Brady, staying local, clever but following his parents with the drugs, his time in prison, his friendship with Bolger, the range of the deals, the network?

3. Billy, Greek culture, philosophy, hearing him lecturing? In his office, the infatuated girl, poetry in Latin, stripping, his saying no, the secretary witnessing and later using this against him? His exasperation? The dinner, the offer to go to Harvard, his own centre, law and philosophy? His prospects?

4. Brady and Bolger, Brady at home, his girlfriend, pregnancy? His still doing the drugs? Visiting his mother? The local gangs and their threats to him? Going to Tulsa, the confrontation with Pug, all talk, about settling down? Brady and Bolger shooting the thugs, shooting Pug? The importance of his development of the hydroponic growth of marijuana? The visuals of his scheme?

5. Brady and his decision to get Billy to come home? Bolger meeting him? Going to the store, the bashing? Billy not wanting to visit his mother, yet doing so? His brother, the pregnant girl? Initial suspicions, allayed? Being persuaded to smoke the pot, memories of the past? Visiting the hydroponic centre? Visiting his mother and the reminiscences?

6. Brady, shaving and becoming trim, visiting Pug, the talk, issues of power, the henchmen? The sudden shootings? Painting the swastikas – back-to-front and the later apology, not wanting to be racist? Billy providing his alibi?

7. Ken, on the plane, his family, talking with Billy, the arrival, orthodontist, his story, hoping for contacts in Tulsa? At the synagogue, seeing Brady? Googling the brothers, discovering the truth, his awkwardness in buying the gun, desperate, arrival, holding up the group, his arguments, Billy shooting him, Brady shot, Brady holding the gun for his brother’s sake?

8. The police, the officer at the home for the residents, knowing the boys’ mother? Talking with the groups, the information, arriving on the scene of the shootings?

9. The quiet times, Janet and her friendship, pleasant, talking with Billy, the bond between them?

10. Billy, going to Tulsa, talking with the rabbi, the apology for the racism?

11. Billy, shot, going to the hospital? Coming back, sitting in the rain with Janet, quietly talking?

12. The picture of drugs in Oklahoma, the dealers, the centre, distribution, the seemingly respectable Jewish citizen of Tulsa and his control of the trade?

13. A future for Billy, the possibilities of going to Harvard for his centre? The relationship with Janet?