DON VERDEAN
US, 2015, 90 minutes, Colour.
Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Will Forte, Danny Mc Bride, Jemaine Clement, Steve Park, Leslie Bibb.
Directed by Jared Hess.
Filmgoers who like small-budget films with the touch of, more than a touch of, eccentricity will recognise the name of writer-director, Jared Hess. With his wife, Jerusha, he has made Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre, Gentlemen Broncos. The earlier films tended to focus on younger characters.
This time the scope is broader. Sam Rockwell plays the title character, an archaeologist, interested in biblical themes. He has a devoted assistant played by Amy Ryan. Don Verdean also gives lectures, producing artefacts to authenticate biblical stories.
He encounters a con man, Danny Mc Bride, who has experienced a conversion, who is interested in building up his congregation and his church, hiring Verdean to go to Israel and find artefacts, including the Holy Grail. There are scenes in Israel, especially with a local investigator played by Jemaine Clement.
Back in the United States, there are criticisms that the material is inauthentic, a challenge from a former Satanist (Will Forte) with his rival church).
Eventually, Verdean stoops to fraud and fabrication – leading to exposure and arrest.
On the one hand, there is satirical humour. On the other, there is a critique of false religiosity and religious fraud
1. The filmmakers, husband and wife team, their films, comedy, satire, wry humour
2. The opening, the video promotion, Don and his work, publicity? The biblical background? Biblical archaeology and Israel? The use of the media for promotion?
3. Israel, the range of locations, for archaeology? The United States, middle America, the town, homes, the church, offices, congregation meetings? The musical score?
4. The title, Sam Rockwell in the role? His creating an eccentric character? The promotion, his work in Israel, his relationship with Carol, the offer from Lazarus, his wife, the promotion, the meetings, ambitions? Carol, devoted, her background, working for Don, naive, some suspicions, meeting Boaz, his gross manner, the dinner, his approach, her reaction? Becoming more disillusioned with Don? Testimony against him?
5. Lazarus, in himself, his wife and the glamour, his church, reputation, religion, beliefs? His plan, donned and his discoveries, sessions and manifestations? The congregation? Great success, acclaim?
6. Fontaine and his assistant, the jealousy, Fontaine is a Satanist, turning to God, his church, rivalry with Lazarus? The assistant and his probing Don? Fontaine and his plans? Sabotage an expose?
7. The plan, the credibility of the findings, donned returning to Israel, the American backing? Wanting to find a sensational relic? The head of Goliath? Going to the site, the plains, the detail, the failure? Carol and her support?
8. Boaz, in himself, Israeli, the satire, his acting as an agent, plans, the finds with Don, Goliath’s head, the fake head? His wanting to go to the US and success?
9. The searching for an alternate head, fake, large? The deal with Boaz? The return, the buildup to the session for Lazarus and his wife? Fontaine and his presence, the denunciation?
10. Boaz, in the United States, mercenary, searching for deals, his hold over Don, the crass approach to Carol and her rejection?
11. Don, in himself, his aims, genuine, religious, initial success, the issue of grants, Lazarus and the church, the fake, his failure and downfall?
12. The comment on religion, historicity, archaeology, beliefs, fundamentalists, disillusionment?
