A GOOD PERSON

US, 2023, 128 minutes, Colour.

Florence Pugh, Morgan Freeman, Celeste O'Connor, Molly Shannon, Chinaza Uche, Zoe Lister-Jones.

Directed by Zach Braff.

As we watch A Good Person, we might well be wondering who the Good Person of the title actually is. There is a later reference to the character, Daniel, played by Morgan Freeman, but we wonder all the time about the central character, Alison, played by Florence Pugh.

There is a lot of wisdom in the screenplay by the director, actor Zach Braff, who specialised in his earlier career with some ingenuous characters. In some ways, despite the complexities of their personalities, the characters here are often exceedingly ingenuous.

It is probably important to say that the film is convincing in much of its dialogue but, most especially, in the performances of the central characters. Florence Pugh is British but can be seen in several films as convincingly American. As she is here. She is Alison, a lighthearted young woman, engaged to a charming fiance, Nathan (Chaniza Uche) who looks distractedly looks at her phone map as she drives with Nathan’s sister and brother-in-law, crashing. They are killed. She survives. And, for a long time, she refuses to admit responsibility but suffers the consequences of her injuries as well as her denial.

This is just the prologue to the film. Most of the action takes place a year later. Alison has been going to therapy but has become dependent on opioids, to the exasperation of her caring but erratic mother (Molly Shannon). She lies in bed, refuses to go out…

But we are also introduced to Nathan’s father, Daniel, a former police officer, reformed alcoholic, finding that he has to take care of his orphaned granddaughter, Ryan (a striking performance of a disturbed and aggressive teenager by Celeste O’Connor). Daniel picks Ryan up at school, watches her soccer matches, tries to control her, set limits, but she defies him.

So, three people badly affected by the accident. Where can it go from here? There is a comment “hurt people hurt people”. But, there is also the statement that hurt people can help hurt people.

When Allison does go to a church group for help, she finds a Daniel there for AA meetings. She is wary. He reaches out. They talk, go for a meal, unexpectedly encounter Ryan who reacts with desperate anger.

Audiences, now invested in the characters, will want to follow what the dynamic is between the three, possibilities of awareness for Alison and less drug dependence, generosity of spirit for Daniel and management of his granddaughter, and, in fact, Ryan bonding with Alison, leading to some more crises.

A review must say more about Florence Pugh’s performance. She is marvellous. She has to go through such a range of emotions and crises but, at each stage of the film, her performance is perfect, fully convincing as addicted, grieving, tentative, hopeful, hopeless, the camera focusing on her face and its persuasively dramatic expressions. We expect Morgan Freeman to be good – and he is.

A good person, of course, is not a perfect person,

This is a film for most audiences but there is a caution. For some reason, Zach Braff’s screenplay is overfilled with swearing, most of it unnecessary, irritating by its frequency, especially coming from the mouths of Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman. While the screenplay is skilful, this kind of writing is very lazy, not bothering to find more creative and intense ways of expressing anger and frustration.

1. The title? As explained by Daniel? With reference to the other characters?
2. The New Jersey setting, homes, shops, church halls, hospital? The turnpike? School? The musical score? Songs and lyrics by Florence Pugh, sung by her? With reference to themes?
3. The 14 minute opening before the credits? The party, the introduction to Alison, the piano, the song, engaged to Nathan, presenting him to the group, his response, at home, together? Molly and her husband, visitors, the theatre, the drive, Alison looking at her phone, the crash? Consequences? Death of Molly and her husband? Injuries to Alison, hospital, Nathan present, her mother? Her bewilderment, then denying responsibility?
4. The transition to a year later, Alison with her mother, the breakup with Nathan, therapy, medication, Oxy Seton dependence, her mother trying to control her, the visit to the pharmacist, the breakfast meeting with her friend and trying for drugs, her going to the bar, drinking, the two men from school, the criticisms of her, making her admit she was a junkie? Her mother relenting and giving her the tablets?
5. Daniel and Ryan, taking her to school, the news of her parents death? A year later, Daniel, his age, his building up the model train city, refuge there, difficulties with Ryan, the soccer team, the fight with the girl, the principal threatening expulsion? Danielle bewildered, the story of his bring up his own children, his drinking, brutal when drunk, Nathan and his loss of hearing, Nathan not speaking to him, Molly and the reconciliation? Trying to talk to Ryan, finding her in bed with the young man, his ousting him? Getting out the bottle of whiskey?
6. Going to the church, to the meeting? Alison, wondering whether she had the will or not, going to the church, wanting to leave, Daniel bringing her in, the testimony and the prayer, the diner afterwards, the frank talk with Daniel, her having taken half a pill, still denying responsibility? Going home, the trains? Ryan’s arrival, recognition, attack? Daniel inviting Alison back?
7. The background of restorative justice, injured parties talking, servicing the situations, the blame, the hurt, the pain? Daniel and his bonding with Alison? Alison and her bonding with Ryan? The soccer matches? The discussions, the texting? The invitation to go to the city, the concert, Ryan engineering Nathan and his girlfriend’s arrival, Alison’s reaction, turning on Ryan? Ryan going to the club, the boy, in bed? Daniel’s arrival, banging on the door? Daniel taking the gun? Threatening the boy? Nathan intervening, stepping in front of the gun?
8. Alison, the effect of the bond with Daniel, with Ryan? Daniel’s verbal attack on her, explaining exactly the timing on the phone and how she was to blame? The consequence for her, going to rehabilitation, the regime, the meetings, her frankness?
9. Alison and the support of her mother, her mother’s eccentric behaviour, drinking, but trying to control Alison, upset when she didn’t come home, Daniel coming to the door to find Alison and Ryan?
10. Nathan, the hurt of the breakup with Alison, her breaking up, blaming herself, Ryan asking him to talk to his father? At the club, the meeting, intervening with his father?
11. Talking with Alison, hoping that one day they could be part of each other’s life?
12. Alison, her recovery, the speech on leaving, playing the piano in the club?
13. Nathan ringing, Daniel’s death, the aftermath, the wake, Alison finding the message from him, the reconciliation?
14. The future, mother and daughter reconciled, the memories of Daniel, her acknowledging the blame and responsibility to Nathan? A future with Ryan?