WILSON
US, 2017, 94 minutes, Colour.
Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Judy Greer, Isabella Amara, Cheryl Hines, Margo Martindale, David Warshawsky.
Directed by Craig Johnson.
The best thing about this comedy drama is the performance by Woody Harrelson as Wilson. He is very much an oddball character in an oddball comedy. In some ways, with all his flaws and foibles, He is something of the 20th century-21st-century Everyman.
As might be expected, we first see him waking up, living alone except for his pet dog, middle-aged, the touch of the scruffy, with no explanation of whether he works or not, or what is his source of income. He doesn’t seem to worry about this at all. Perhaps, neither should we.
While Wilson has something of a good heart, he is also very direct in the way that he thinks, feels and, definitely, expresses himself to others. No filters! He has no friends to speak of, pleads with one not to move to St Louis from Minnesota, visits another to rekindle friendship only to find that this man is the embodiment of negativity and bitterness. Wilson will chat to people – as we see him imposing on an IT businessman, trying to sleep or to listen to his Walkman, in a train. And chatting with an IT-addicted woman would like to go on a date, in the diner.
Then we learn more about Wilson, his memories of his mother, his going to see his dying father who passes away without saying a word, something Wilson needs. Then we learn that his wife, Pippi, left him 17 years earlier, problems with drugs, pregnant and saying she would have an abortion.
Which means then that Wilson has been living like this for 17 years. A lonely and isolated life, despite himself.
But the IT lady googles his wife and finds links to her sister with Wilson then tracking her down as a waitress in a restaurant, trying to get her life back in order, something of a waif -like middle-aged woman (Laura Dern) who reveals that she did not have an abortion, had sent him the documents, had received no reply and had the girl adopted.
Having found Pippi, Wilson and is determined to find his daughter, Claire, readily getting information, tracking her down with Pippi, coming to her aid when she is bullied at school, not holding back in revealing who he is and who Pippi is, sharing some happy events with Claire, even taking her to see Pippi’s sister – and ill-fated venture which ends with Pippi and Holly fighting each other and charges of abduction for Wilson.
Wilson even glides through his prison sentence, despite some bashings, gradually ingratiating himself with everyone so that when he emerges from prison, and goes to see his neighbour Shelley (Judy Greer) who has minded his dog, there is some hope – though some disappointments in Pippi and some surprises with Claire…
Perhaps it does one some good sharing the life, hopes and disappointments of somebody so different in an oddball way.
1. An oddball comedy? Character, story, life, humour?
2. Minnesota, Wilson’s house, the dog in the streets, the shops, friends’ world, the Cassidy mansion, the fair and the rides, the prison sequences? The musical score?
3. Wilson as an oddball 20th 21st-century Everyman? Human nature, the good, the flaws and foibles, damaged, dire and blunt, memories of his mother, his father, in hospital, unable to communicate, his death and the effect, Wilson’s need to have something from his father, telling others about his passing and his death? Memories of Pippi, 17 years earlier, marriage, pregnancy, leaving, drugs, the abortion?
4. Why was Wilson alone? No information about his occupation or source of income? His friends and their moving to St Louis, the wife telling him off? Going to see Olson, trying to renew friendship, Olson and his bitterness, memories? Wilson talking to people and their backing off, on the train with the IT man sleeping, the woman and her addiction to IT and wanting to go out on a date? His dog and his love for the dog?
5. The information about Polly online, his contacting her, getting information about Pippi, memories of the past? His tracking down Pippi in the restaurant, a different name, embarrassed to see him? The background of her leaving, not having the abortion, putting the daughter up for adoption, sending him the papers and he is not realising it? Drugs, prostitution? The passing of the years, wanting to get herself together, talking with Wilson, at home with him, in bed together, the bond?
6. Wilson and his wanting to track down his daughter, going to the researcher, getting the information, the photo? Showing Pippi? Finding her, stalking her, her being picked on by the bullies and his intervening? Her home, the Cassidys and affluence? Pippi and Wilson following her in the car? On the bench, talking with her, Claire as a character, her age, adoption, being picked on? The effect on Pippi? The decision to go to the picnic? Going to the fair, the enjoyment of the rides?
7. The decision to visit Polly and her family, Wilson and his bluntness, his ridiculing of Polly’s son, Cooper, studies and scholarships? Claire and her embarrassment, Pippi and her awkwardness, Wilson mismanaging the situation? Polly and her fight with Pippi? Calling the police, accused of the abduction?
8. Court case, the sentence, Claire against him, 40 months in prison, the & with the swastika, his being beaten, the change of cell, the Bible Reading prisoner, his change of heart, the prayers, his being liked in the prison, the effect of prison on him? Even playing cards with the swastika man?
9. Pippi, her visit after so many months, her carer, the decision to go to Australia?
10. Wilson getting out, his past relationship with Shelley, looking after the dog? Their being together, the massage, fulfilment for each of them?
11. His going to see Claire, wanting an apology for her condemnation, saying she was pregnant, his offering to move to Portland, the refusal? At the house, the confrontation with Cassidy?
12. Claire going to Portland, Wilson staying with Shelley, the relationship? The Skype contact and the picture of Claire with the baby?
13. Wilson saying that he had grown up through all these experiences – had he? His future?
