THE PALLBEARER
US, 1996, 98 minutes, Colour.
David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbara Hershey, Toni Collette, Michael Rappaport, Carol Kane, Michael Vartan, Bitty Schram, Elizabeth Franz.
Directed by Matthew Reeves.
An interesting idea: an awkward young man is mistakenly thought to be the best friend of a suicide and he hasn't the heart to tell the truth - and complications follow. What might have been an entertaining New York comedy (akin to Brothers McMullen?, She's the One) is hobbled by a screenplay that could be sharper and wittier and the performance of David Schwimmer (during the early years of Friends) who comes across too often as a slack-jawed drip. Gwyneth Paltrow is nice and Toni Collette (American accent perfect) is seen too little. Barbara Hershey seems in another film as the suicide's mother trying to offer some depth (as well as a touch of the Mrs Robinsons).
1. Light comedy? Black comedy touches? A satisfying combination?
2. New York settings, Brooklyn, Long Island? Authentic atmosphere? Musical score – the range of songs, especially from Dolly Parton, the relevance of the lyrics to the action?
3. The title, indication of theme? The opening with the dead man in the car, his mother discovering him? Her reaction, finding the names, getting in contact with Tom, asking him to come to the funeral, to be a pallbearer? His bewilderment? Setting the scene?
4. David Schwimmer as Tom, living with his mother, nerdish, his interview about his employment, architecture? His being a passive aggressive – especially in being demanding from his friends? His meeting Brad and Scott? Wanting Scott’s suit? Insistent? The discussion about the funeral? Their not remembering the dead man? Their bonding? The party, Tom wanting Scott’s shirt and getting it? His being in love with Julie, her arrival at the party, his wanting to make a good impression? His relationship with Brad and Lauren, criticisms of Lauren? With Cynthia and Scott? Scott as his best friend? Cynthia and her concern for him? The party, discussions with Julie, her mistaking him? The aftermath? His relationship with his mother, her eccentricity, interference, his shouting at her on the phone, her entering into his room, her behaviour when Julie came? His finally moving out and her tantrum?
5. The decision to go to the funeral, everybody else going? Dressed up? In the church? His being at the front, the awkwardness of his eulogy – and having tried to compose it with his friends? The friends having the giggles? Julie and her going to the coffin, weeping, serious? Her criticising them at the end? His going with the coffin to her, the reaction of the pallbearers? Of the relatives? The bewilderment of the priest?
6. Barbara Hershey as Ruth Abernathy? The blonde style? The dresses? The impression of a Mrs Robinson? Her attitudes towards Tom? Gratitude, her grief for her son, the sexual encounter and the aftermath? His helping her with Tom’s possessions? The gift of the car? Tom and his embarrassment? Ruth and her hold over him, the phone calls, her jealousy of Julie, the scene at Julie’s birthday party in the restaurant? His sending the necklace, her anger at receiving it in the post? The poem? (Brad’s advice?) His seeing her afterwards, his telling her the truth, her mellowing? His bringing the real Tom who was the friend? The aftermath for Mrs Abernathy? The effect of this relationship on Tom?
7. Tom, his listening to Julie, her insecurities, going out with her, enjoying her company? His taking of the car, driving her to the concert, its breaking down? His seeing Scott kiss her? Listening to Julie’s reaction? His condemnation of Scott? Going to Brad’s stag party, his being uncomfortable, telling Brad the truth, not being the best man? Going to Julie’s birthday party, her father and his rude reaction? His trying to speak for Julie? Ruth’s interruption and Julie’s departure? At the wedding, his gift of the car, the invitation to dance? His love for Julie?
8. Julie, the glamour, the reputation? The reality, her insecurity, her friendship with Cynthia? At the party, going to the funeral, her grief for the dead man? Meeting with Tom, the cup of coffee, the awkwardness of the outing and Scott putting his foot in it, especially about Tom living with his mother? The continued meetings, her confiding in Tom about Scott’s kiss? Inviting him to the birthday party, her reaction to the intervention by Ruth? The car, her dancing with him? A future?
9. Scott, his relationship with Cynthia, the roving eye, friendship with Tom? His attention to Julie, the kiss in the bookshop? His being the best man, the clash with Tom? The reconciliation? His reconciliation with Cynthia? Cynthia, commonsensed, her advice to Tom, helping Julie? At the funeral? The separation, the reconciliation and the wedding? Brad, his talking on the phone to Japan, his brashness, his relationship with Lauren, Lauren and her moodiness, her scenes? The criticisms by Scott and Tom? The wedding, the reception, the reconciliation?
10. The background characters, Tom and his work, the interview? The relations at the funeral? Aunt Lucille and her comments? The pallbearers?
11. The comic touches, the romantic touches, the serious touches, the black comedy touches?
