LUCKY THEM
US, 2014, 97 minutes, Colour.
Toni Collette, Thomas Hayden Church, Oliver Platt, Ryan Eggold, Nina Arianda, Joanne Woodward, Johnny Depp.
Directed by Megan Griffiths.
At one stage in the film, magazine journalist Ellie, Toni Collette, makes a remark that people who are able to live alone are “Lucky them”. Which means that she should be lucky because a lot of her time is spent alone despite her having friends, associates, and sexual relationships. But, at the opening of the film, she is far from lucky.
Toni Collette always gives a good performance as she does here. Ellie is a journalist for a magazine in Seattle, Oliver Platt playing the editor, who is becoming frustrated by Ellie’s unreliability, especially as magazines are changing, the influence of online publishing. He commissions her to do an investigation about a musician who was popular 10 years earlier, Matthew, who had made a great impact in the music world but had then suddenly withdrawn and there were reports of his death. He and Ellie had been in a relationship and his departure was emotionally hurtful for Ellie. She does not necessarily want to write this article but the editor insists that she must if she is to keep her job.
Helped by a good friend, she goes online to get some information about Matthew’s being alive or dead. She does get a lead and follows through but the informant seems rather unreliable and demands money. She actually has persuaded the editor to give her money to pay leads but she has lost the money.
Part of the job is to be a talent scout in Seattle and she comes across a man singing in the streets and is impressed by him, interviewing him, but failing to write the promised article. However, he does move in with her, sings in a club and is offered more appearances.
The tone of the film changes somewhat when an interesting if bizarre character arrives on the scene, Charlie, Thomas Hayden Church, a millionaire who had met Ellie years earlier. He is interested in all kinds of projects and wants to join Ellie in her search for Matthew, also offering to finance the search as long as he goes along, having decided that he would like to make a documentary about it. He years very (very) straight up and down, quite humourless, which makes his character interesting and a contrast with that of Ellie. They go on the road, interact with their different styles, he doing some filming, she doing the searching.
There is a surprise for the audience when she eventually does find Matthew – played by a top star in a modest cameo role, quite effective in its way. Probably his identity has come out but publicists were asking reviewers not to reveal who it was.
In many ways this is a small film, a local focus, a concentration on magazines and a changing styles, the research for articles. Citizen Kane it is not although it is somewhat in that vein – but audiences who come across the film will probably enjoy it.
1. The title? Ellie and her referring to people who live alone as ‘Lucky them’? Stories of life, stories of fate, stories of destiny?
2. The situation, Seattle, the magazine, 10 years earlier, Ellie and her relationship with Matthew, love, his music? Her work at the magazine, writing articles? His disappearance? Reports of his death?
3. The musical score, the range of songs? Busking, on the streets, records?
4. 10 years later, Ellie and her life, living with the hurt, the passing of the years, slacking in her work, interactions with the editor, his demands, the article, reconstructing Matthew’s career, the commission? Her work as scouting talent, the singer in the street?
5. Ellie in herself, sexual relationships, partners, alone, her best friend? The response to talent, the singer, interviewing him, not writing an article, his moving in, their relationship, his playing in clubs? His success? Travel? His finding the money and using it? Later returning it to Ellie?
6. The editor, his magazine, the range of changes, the different styles, commissioning articles, his relationship with Ellie, her failure, his anger, threats? His response to the final article?
7. Ellie and her friend, the discussions, her encouragement?
8. Her following through for the article, the Internet information, her response, following up, the visit, getting the money from the editor, losing it, going to the lead, his asking for money, getting the name of the club? Going to visit and the singer who sounded like Matthew?
9. Charlie, the past meeting with Ellie, friendship? His character, one-note, humourless millionaire, his infatuation with his girlfriend, his reflection on his relationships, his wedding, the breakup? His interest in the case, travelling, sharing the visits? The financial support? His intention to make a documentary, his filming, the visit to Matthew’s father, in the house, the father’s dislike of Ellie, ousting?
10. Charlie and his character, the changes through the trip? The discussions as they travelled, filmed, did interviews?
11. Going to the house, the meeting with Matthew’s wife at the diner, her phone call, following up? Matthew, wife and family, retreating from music? His character, a new life? The relationship with Ellie and his leaving her? A fond farewell? Johnny Depp doing the cameo role?
12. Ellie, writing the article, putting herself into it, the response of the editor? A new lease in life?
