THE ULTIMATE GIFT
US, 2007, 113 minutes, Colour.
Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigal Breslin, Lee Meriweather, Brian Dennehy.
Directed by Michael O. Sajbel.
The Ultimate Gift is one of the earliest releases from the Fox Faith department, announced at the end of 2006, for the release of faith-based films. This one is more accessible to the wide audience as it does not wear its faith credentials on its sleeve (as, for instance, in the Baptist-church produced Facing the Giants which has an explicit, almost proselytising screenplay).
Rather, this is a moral fable.
James Garner plays a very wealthy oil and businessman who leaves minimal wealth to his sons and daughters (all materialistic, selfish and extravagant) and the widow of another son (she is a flighty socialite). What he does do (and it is all presented on DVD so that the tycoon can speak directly after his death) is offer a chance to his disgruntled grandson who resents his grandfather for his own father’s death in Ecuador. The grandson, Jason (Drew Fuller from Charmed) is a spoilt, insolent, self-centred, pleasure-seeking young man with no regard for anyone. Taunted by his mercenary girlfriend, he succumbs to the temptation to try to find out what his grandfather had in mind for him.
The bequest is something akin to the labours of Hercules. Jason is given tasks, step by step, which he unwillingly participates in. But, as we know, ultimately they will have their effect on him and he will learn the value of the gifts of work, money, friendship, family, sacrifice… and of a life of value with values.
Early in his quest he comes across a precocious young girl in the park (who, for some unexplained reason, was also at his grandfather’s funeral with her mother). The girl has terminal leukaemia. She is played – with a self-determination and self-will that outshines the redoubtable Dakota Fanning – by Abigail Breslin (after she appeared in Keane and in her Oscar-nominated role in Little Miss Sunshine). Her mother is attractive, common-sensed and not mercenary (Ali Hillis).
Jason’s quest takes him to dig post-holes for Brian Dennehy in Texas, to sleeping in the open in a park in Charlotte, to the hospital and to the mountains of Ecuador for an explanation of how his father died (and to be abducted for ransom). The benign controllers of Jason’s destiny are played by veterans Bill Cobb and Lee Merewether.
There is religious language and feeling in the film but it is given a ‘worldly’ context which makes more impact than if it were presented preachily. While this is a moralising story, it trusts in the impact of its story to move people. (The director, Michael O. Sajbel, also directed the less successful story of Esther, One Night with the King.)
1.The impact of the film? For family audiences? For religious audiences? Part of the Fox Faith program?
2.The background of Texas, oil exploration, business? The Texas scenes? Charlotte, the city, business world? The streets? Affluent homes? Ordinary homes? Hospitals? The musical score?
3.The title, Red Stevens and his regard for his family, his regard for Jason, wanting to give him an ultimate gift?
4.The focus on Red Stevens, his videotaping his will, his working with Ted Hamilton, with Miss Hastings? The filming, his talking to camera, his talking to his family, his talking to Jason? The background of his life, his pioneering, business, friendship with Ted? His love for his son, in Ecuador, his son’s death, blaming himself? His being blamed by Jason? Jason and his antagonism towards his grandfather? The change of heart, Red wanting to change his relationship with his grandson?
5.The nature of the will, the reading, Ted Hamilton and Miss Hastings, his children, their antagonism, their anger, spendthrift, criticisms? Jason’s mother and her being a spendthrift? Jason, his casual approach, dress, turning up late? His being called back? His listening to his grandfather, hostility?
6.Jason and his life, spoilt, money, travel, girlfriends? His girlfriend and the discussion about the money, her urging him on?
7.Jason and Ted Hamilton, with Miss Hastings? The various tasks, his surly way of listening, accepting them? The cumulative effect of the tasks: his going to Texas, the airport, in ordinary class, his expectations and his bad manners? Meeting Gus, Gus’s welcome, his antagonism towards Gus? The work, the postholes? Gus insisting, eventually Jason doing the work? The lesson from Gus – but not accepted? His being put out of his house? His looking for somewhere to stay, in the park? His having no money, asking his girlfriend at the end of the meal, her walking out on him? His meeting Emily and Alexia in the park? The irony of their having been at his grandfather’s funeral? Their discussions, Emily and her illness, her manner of speaking? At the hospital? His getting friends, wanting to buy them, changing his mind? The persistence of the beggar and asking for money? The Thanksgiving dinner, taking Alexia to the family dinner, the family squabbles, the insults? His caring for Emily? His wanting to get the money, for Emily, for the hospital? His going through the tests, talking with Miss Hastings and Ted Hamilton? The changing self? For the better? His inheriting the money, building the hospital? Emily’s death, his grief, his love for Alexia, their marriage?
8.Ted Hamilton, the black man, his friendship with Red Stevens, partnerships, administering the will? His meetings with Jason, wise advice? Miss Hastings and her concern, her help?
9.Alexia and Emily, at the funeral, in the park, Emily’s illness, the possibilities of operations, her accepting her death, her friendship with Jason, sharing with him? Her matchmaking? Alexia, her background, pregnancy, her love for her child, grief at her death? The love for Jason, not knowing that he was rich, going to the Thanksgiving dinner? The bond between them?
10.Gus, Jason taking Alexia and Emily to the farm, the horse-riding, bringing the two together, Emily’s plan?
11.The background characters, the members of the family, Jason and his mother – and her not letting him into the apartment, her fears for losing her allowance? The sharp comments at the table? The irony of Red Stevens having children like this?
12.Jason and his going to Ecuador, meeting his father’s friends, risking going into the jungle, the abduction, seeing where his father was, learning the truth, accepting the apology from his grandfather? His own change of heart?
13.An entertaining moral fable – with a lesson in values?
