THE TOMORROW MAN
US, 2019, 94 minutes, Colour.
John Lithgow, Blythe Danner, Derek Cecil, Katie Aselton, Sophie Thatcher, Eve Harlow.
Directed by Noble Jones.
A romance for the older generations. While John Lithgow is Ed makes the remark that he is on the wrong side of 60, both leading actors were in their early 70s as they made this film. So, it is really a film for those in their 60s and 70s – or further.
The film is set in Rochester, New York, atmosphere of a small American town. Ed is divorced from a television news reader for 19 years, has a son, Brian, always antagonistic in their relationships. Brian has a wife and a rebellious daughter, criticising him as he criticises his father. Ed lives alone, is full of ideas and knowledge, lives on the Internet. He also has a secret, he is a conspiracy theorist, expecting disaster happen at any time and storing up all kinds of food and commodities in his garage.
He keeps noticing Ronnie, Blythe Danner, at the supermarket, hems in her car, apologises, introducing himself, invites her out, she a widow and her daughter dead, enjoying his company. They date, he finally revealing his stock of food and goods which baffles her. He also invites her to Thanksgiving dinner with his family, a rather acrimonious event.
When invited to Ronnie’s house, he sees that it is full of souvenirs and is a mess. He tries to persuade her to have a yard sale – and she, with the advice of the young woman who is the boss at the goods store she works at, rejects his idea. He has a minor stroke and is hospitalised, somewhat reconciled to his son.
Eventually, while it decides to have a yard sale, there are explosions in the distance and a mushroom cloud…
- The title, Ed and his philosophy of life, the contrast with that of Ronnie?
- Rochester, the small town, homes, garages, shops, supermarkets, parking lots, restaurants? Thanksgiving dinner? Atmosphere of the small town? Musical score?
- Ed’s story, in his 70s, the divorce, watching his wife on screen and hearing her comments, alienation from his son, arguments? At the supermarket, seeing Ronnie, friendly with the cash out woman, Maggie? The car park, his moving his truck, talking with Ronnie, meeting in the supermarket, the date, the meal, enjoyable conversation, going to his place, watching war documentaries on television, her memories of her father in the war? Ronnie’s dead husband, cancer? The severe unusual disease for her daughter? Falling asleep, going to work, discussions with Tina, advice? Going out with Ed, his getting out of the truck, in love, upset? Showing her his store and her being mystified? Going to Thanksgiving dinner, his son’s arguments, his wife and her drinking and trying to pacify, the rebellious daughter? The aftermath? Ed going to see Ronnie’s house, dismayed at all the objects, junk, disorder? Trying to persuade her to have a yard sale? His collapse, hospital, reconciliation with his son? Showing his son his provision garage? Ronnie rejecting the yard sale?
- Ronnie, her age, simple life, her work, discussions with Tina, at the supermarket, the encounter with Ed, following through, enjoying his company, television, outings, the contrast with Ed wanting to know everything, her not wanting to know? Pressure for the yard sale? Her resistance? The Thanksgiving dinner?
- And, at the shop, have a yard sale of all his goods? The customers? The explosions and cloud? The future?
