RACHEL, RACHEL!

This year on "Friday Movie Suggestion Night", I've managed (without coincidence of any making) to present movies that came to my attention after a poignant post or two were already created. Take this week, for example. We touched upon the subject of "Second Chances". Truth be told, I have held this movie at bay for some time. With Paul Newman's passing, my feeling was simply "If not now, when?"

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In nearly every interview I watched over the years with Paul as a Guest, he always mentioned how proud he was to produce and direct his wife Joanne Woodward in an adaptation of Margaret Laurence's novel, "A Jest of God". The theme of this film is that we are either living our lives or merely existing. Paul relies on sparse dialogue, and I must say only Joanne could lend the tender inner loneliness of a 35 year-old school teacher who remains unmarried and desperately at a dead-end in her life better than anyone else. Confronting what psychologists today refer to as "separation and individuation" issues, Rachel's life revolves around the neurosis of her mother, whom she still lives with. Her deceased father was a small town undertaker in Connecticut. Life beckons when Nick Kaslik, a childhood friend returns for a visit, "looking for some action" and Woodward's character begins to ponder choices. Namely, to sit on the fence or move forward.

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The film score is by Jerome Moross (with some help by Erik Satie and Robert Schumann). Woodward is transcendent in a role about the choices we make in our lives.

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The Cast: Joanne Woodward is Rachel Cameron; James Olson is Nick Kazlik; Kate Harrington is Mrs. Cameron, Estelle Parsons is Calla Mackie; Donald Moffitt is Niall Cameron and Terry Kiser is the preacher. Produced and Directed by Paul Newman and based on "A Jest of God" by Author Margaret Laurence; Screenplay by Stewart Stern. Academy Award Nominations for 1969: "Best Actress in a Leading Role": Joanne Woodward; "Best Actress in a Supporting Role", Estelle Parsons, "Best Picture": Paul Newman; "Best Screenplay: Stewart Stern; WINNER, Golden Globes Awards: "Best Motion Picture Actress--Drama": Joanne Woodward; Best Motion Picture Director: Paul Newman.

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A different film.

A new direction for the rest of 2008.

Unpredictable.

Intense.

Provocative.

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ENJOY!
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