10 ITEMS OR LESS
US, 2006, 82 minutes, Colour.
Morgan Freeman, Paz Vega, Anne Dudek, Danny De Vito, Rhea Perleman.
Directed by Brad Silberling.
10 Items or Less is a small film, a kind of short story, by Brad Silberling (Moonlight Mile). It does not have an immediate appeal to a wide audience. Rather, it is more or less a two-hander, a portrait of an out-of-work actor, played by Morgan Freeman who is executive producer of the film, who is researching a role for a small independent film by a first-time director. He encounters Scarlett, Paz Vega, working in a supermarket. Most of the film is the story of their bonding, talking, meeting friends and acquaintances, reflecting on their lives.
The film probably grows on an audience sympathetic to the characters and their situations. Morgan Freeman is genial. Paz Vega begins as something of a spitfire but calms down. There is a small cameo role at the end with Danny De Vito and Rhea Perleman, his wife, driving past the couple.
Brad Silberling wrote and directed the film – and wrote such films as Moonlight Mile with Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon.
1.The impact of the film, characters, moods?
2.The small budget, the film as a short story?
3.Morgan Freeman, as the actor, the lull in his career, getting the lift, talking to the young man, the young man’s adulation, the radio book and his not being the voice, his explanations of reading a radio book? His going to the supermarket, for research, the character that he was studying, Scarlett and her reaction to the customers, short with them? Lorraine and her sitting manicuring her fingers? His following the old manager and imitating him? The announcement, sitting in the booth, the customers? Working to stack the shelves?
4.Scarlett, her job, Hispanic, the contrast with Lorraine, tough, the customers, her reaction to the actor, finishing work, talking with him, the issue of the keys, the lift, going to the ex-husband, her explanation of her marriage, the issue of the keys, Lorraine present? Taking the time with the actor, their talk, sharing, getting to know him?
5.The quality of the dialogue, the talk and the encounter, Scarlett getting to like the actor, the bond, the revelation, the ordinariness, the differences?
6.The end of the day, the enrichment for each?
7.Morgan Freeman in the film, his role, discussions about film and film-making, acting?
8.The cameo with Danny DeVito? and his wife, their comments about the actor and his wife?
9.The final credits, the jokes, the scenes of work? The overall effect on an audience? Sympathy, interest, lack of interest?
