JAMES WHITE
US, 2015, 85 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Abbott, Cynthia Nixon, Scott Mescudi, Mackenzie Lee, Ron Livingston.
Directed by Josh Mond.
This is a small film, the portrait of a man, James White, his life, his relationship with his mother, his inability to cope with himself as well as his mother’s terminal illness.
The film is also a tour de force for actor, Christopher Abbott, who plays James. Christopher Abbott appeared effectively in such films as Piercings and, especially Brandon Cronenberg’s Possessor. Cynthia Nixon, who became very popular with television’s Sex and the City, plays his mother.
The structure of the film is rather episodic, the audience having to make the links between the different episodes, James and his situation, relationship with his father, living away from his mother, friends, drinking, drugs. To cope, he goes down to Mexico to live an easy life but has to return. There are sequences of his aggressiveness in clubs, with his friends, many of them giving him advice. Ultimately, he has to look at himself, face up to the illness of his mother, to discover whether he can take on responsibilities.
A brief portrait, and more for an arthouse film audience.
1. The title, the focus on James? James in himself, his relationship with his mother, her illness and death? His friends, erratic behaviour?
2. The New York setting, the apartments, the streets, restaurants? Hotels? The trip to Mexico? The scenery, the hotels? The musical score?
3. Brief running time, the portrait of James, audience interest, sympathy, alienation?
4. Naming the months, the action month by month, from November to February?
5. His age, appearance, ambitions in writing, drinking, friendships and breaking friendships, reactions with Nick, Nick’s support? Meeting Jane, the relationship? With Ben, Ben and the possibilities of job? Ben and James’s writing?
6. James’ mother, her age, cancer, at home, pride in her son, dependence on him, yet wanting his independence? Her pain, going to hospital, James and his desperation in the hospital? At home, sometimes unable to speak, the temperatures, James cooling her down, instructions on the phone?
7. His father’s death, the Japanese woman and her daughter, the story of his father, marrying his mother, leaving, subsequent life, the effect of his death? The people gathering to mourn, their watching the video of the wedding, his ousting everyone?
8. The travel south, with Jane, the effect, his being called back to New York?
9. The effect of his mother’s illness, wanting to do the right thing, his moods and tantrums, alienating people, getting into fights, Nick having to save him?
10. The final months with his mother, sometimes desperate, at home with her, his support?
11. His visit to Ben, Ben welcoming his writing, but unable to employee him, urging him to get his head on straight and return?
12. His mother’s death, people gathering, his grief?
13. His future, the effect of this experience of his mother? His unreliability – yet the possibility for change, rising to a challenge?
