UNHOOK THE STARS

US, 1996, 103 minutes, Colour.
Gena Rowlands, Marisa Tomei, Gerard Depardieu, Jake Lloyd, Moira Kelly, David Sherrill, David Thornton, Bridgette Wilson.
Directed by Nick Cassavetes.

Unhook the Stars was co-written by its director, Nick Cassavetes. Cassavetes has directed a number of films, including The Notebook, with his mother Gena Rowlands (widow of director and actor John Cassavetes).

The film is a routine story about an ageing woman, her clash with her own daughter, her befriending the young son of her neighbour and coming to rely on him as a good friend whom she was also teaching. She observes the neighbour’s clashes with her brutal husband. When she is invited out, she encounters a truck driver (Gerard Depardieu) and there is an attraction.

Her story comes to a head when she sells her house, has the option of moving to San Francisco to be with her prosperous son or to go somewhere, like Miami, the destination of the truck driver.

Gena Rowlands is always a strong screen presence. Maria Tomei is forceful as the neighbour with the little boy. Moira Kelly is Gena Rowlands’ angry daughter.

Nothing particularly special, but interesting to see Gena Rowlands in this kind of film and to watch the performance of Marisa Tomei.

1.The title? Its reference to Mildred, to Monica?

2.American suburbia, wealthy homes (and the opening sequences with the paper delivery)? Neighbours and neighbourhoods? San Francisco? Hotels? The musical score?

3.Material familiar – especially from television movies? The dysfunctional household? The kindly neighbour, her own problems with her children? Friendships and love? Decision-making?

4.The portrait of Mildred, memories of her husband, his leaving her comfortable? Her initial clashes with Annie, her daughter telling her off, her hatred for her mother? Her moving out? Mildred alone, observing Monica and Frankie? Monica asking her to mind J.J? Her acceptance, the collage of the happy day, teaching him, outings, food? Bringing him home? Her offering to help, take him to school and collect him? The encyclopaedias, singing “Doggie in the Window”…? The bonds between the two? The visit for Thanksgiving, the preparations, the explanation of the celebration, Ethan and his wife? Monica coming, going out? The bonds between Mildred and J.J? The proposal about San Francisco, her going out, seeing the beautiful house? Her decision against going? The outing with Monica, the men in the bar, the jokes, her dancing with Big Tommy? The drive home after Monica’s disappearance, Tommy kissing her, her negative reaction? Frankie and Monica getting together, Seeing less of J.J? Her drinking, Annie’s return home, getting the job, moving out? Her decision to sell the house, Monica and Frankie helping, the farewell to J.J? Annie and her apology, sorry for her alienation from her father, seeing her mother off at the airport? The mystery of Mildred’s destination?

5.Monica and Frankie, marriage, love, brutality, Frankie walking out? Monica and J.J? Monica as tough, working in the factory, the shifts? Asking Mildred to help? Relying on Mildred, their becoming friends? The outing and her going off with the men? The reconciliation with Frankie, Mildred’s advice, her following through? Her love for her son? Their helping Mildred to move – and Monica having found a friend?

6.J.J, his age, quiet, with Mildred, enjoying the outings, learning? With his mother? The return of his father, the outings with him, baseball, the Cubs? The farewell to Mildred? His appreciation of what he had learnt?

7.Annie, her animosity towards her mother, their fights, moving out, wanting independence? The return, getting the job? Her reconciliation with her mother? The contrast with Ethan, his doing well, his mother’s seeming favouritism? Jeannie, her pregnancy? The visit for Thanksgiving, going to San Francisco, the offer of the house?

8.Tommy, the men at the bar, drinking, joking, dancing? Truck driver? The attraction towards Mildred, driving her home, the kiss? The later meeting, the dinner, having conversation – and Mildred kissing him? A future with him or not?

9.Themes of friendship, love, antagonism, reconciliation?