INVENTING THE ABBOTTS

US, 1997, 110 minutes, Colour.
Liv Tyler, Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly, Joanna Going, Barbara Williams, Will Patton, Kathy Baker, Alessandro Nivola.
Directed by Pat O’ Connor.

Inventing the Abbotts is a story from the 1950s, the stories that were popular at the time and formed the grounds for soap opera. This film is more of a drama, exploring the characters and interrelationships.

The Holt family has had difficult dealings with the Abbott family. Helen Holt was widowed when her two sons were very young. Helen Holt is played by Kathy Baker in a moving performance. Her two sons are played by Billy Cradup and Joaquin Phoenix. Billy Cradup is Jacey, the older boy, who has a resentment towards the Abbotts thinking that Lloyd Abbott had had an affair with his mother. This proves not to be true at all. Doug Holt, who has a voice-over (by Michael Keaton) is the younger and more reflective son, also fascinated by the Abbotts.

Will Patton is very good as Lloyd Abbott and Liv Tyler, Jennifer Connelly and Joanna Going are his daughters. Eleanor is the rebel. Alice is the conventional daughter who marries (Alessandro Nivola) and has a child but wants a divorce but stays with her husband for appearance’s sake. Liv Tyler portrays the youngest daughter, middle of the road as she describes herself, who is in love with Doug.

It takes quite some time, with some detailed observation of life in the Illinois town and the interrelationships for there to come some kind of resolution.

The film was directed by Pat O’ Connor, an Irish director who made an impact in the 1980s with Cal. His other films include A Month in the Country, The January Man, Stars and Bars, Circle of Friends, Dancing at Lughnasa.

1.A film of memoirs? Of youth, love, bitterness? A portrait of American society in the mid-50s?

2.The re-creation of the period, costumes, décor, styles, cars? The songs from the late 50s?

3.The title, Jacey and his inventing the Abbotts, not seeing them for who they were? The voice-over and Doug’s comments about the Abbotts? Following through in terms of bets, their father’s death, the non-affair, Jacey’s resentment, seductions, Doug and his love for Pam?

4.Doug as the centre of the story? Joaquin Phoenix’s performance? Michael Keaton’s voice-over? His comments on Jacey, the same family, feeling alienated? His mother’s later comments about her attention to him and not giving enough attention to Jacey? The revelations about their father, the bet, the car, going on the ice, drowning, losing the patent for the car? The impact of his death? Helen and her love for her husband? Her being a teacher? Her love for her son, the lies around the town? Lloyd and his daughters? Doug and his observations of the three girls? His attitude towards Pam, ambiguous? Talking, at the dances? Her being careful in her response? The clashes with Jacey, the punching and fighting? At home? Doug at school, his going to the party, his punching the boyfriend? Talking with his mother? The table tennis with Jacey to let off steam? Jacey and Eleanor, his catching them? Watching Alice? The issue of going to college, his graduation? Jacey and his spurning of him? Not wanting him hanging on to his coattails? Doug’s own personal achievement? The various encounters with Pam, fixing her car, at college, explaining his set design to her? His mother’s death, meeting Eleanor at the airport? Jacey and the truth about their mother, the non-affair? Jacey and his going away? Pam and Jacey, her drinking, his sense of betrayal? Sending the message of love through Eleanor? His meeting with Lloyd, the final discussions? Marrying Pam – the family and the happy ending?

5.Jacey, the chip on his shoulder, the older brother, his antagonism towards the Abbotts, especially towards Lloyd? His attitude towards the girls, the sexual relationship with Eleanor? The clashes with Doug? Telling Doug about his mother and the story of the affair? Alice and the seduction, the confrontation with Lloyd? Pam intervening and reporting? His confronting Lloyd? His studies, seducing girls, at home, work, the fights with Doug? The seduction of Pam? His mother’s death?

6.The portrait of Helen Holt, a good woman, tolerant, trying to deal with her sons, hurt by the talk, the confrontation with Joan? The friendship with Lloyd and the discussions at the graduation? Her talking strongly to Jacey? Letting him go? Confiding in Doug? Her work as a teacher, the classroom, her collapse? Her death?

7.Pam as the third Abbott girl, not wanting to be an Abbott? Her friendship with Doug, at the dance, when he punched the young man? Talking with him, fond of him, resisting him? The car breakdown? The shop? Going to college, away? Encountering Doug again? Drinking, the episode with Jacey? The end?

8.Eleanor, the rebel, the relationship with Jacey, the sex, her scoffing at her father? Provocative? Being sent away to an institution? Training to be a stewardess – the scene at the airport with Doug?

9.Alice, pregnant, marrying, the big party, her husband, the baby, wanting a divorce, flirting with Jacey, going to the river, at home? Pam saving Alice’s reputation with her father – but yet telling her father and her father confronting Jacey? Her refusal to leave with him?

10.Lloyd, his life, wealth, moving into a rich family, protective of his status? Tough with his girls? The loveless marriage? Confrontations with Jacey, with Doug? Friendship with Helen, his declaration of admiration for her? Joan and the vicious attack – and the rumours in the town?

11.The details of town life, daily life, homes, mansions, social, cars, school, college, theatre workshops?

12.The moral atmosphere of the film and its stances, values of love, bitterness, trues and lies?