The whole reason I decided to write on this chatboard was a terrific indie film I caught last night called DOWN TO THE BONE. It opened the Friday after Thanksgiving and played in one NYC theatre (the Quad) and I wasn't sure it would be around for a second week, despite strong reviews (check out metacritics), so I caught a 10 p.m. screening last night.
Well, it is still around, albeit splitting a screen with another film. If this film pops up in an art house or video store near you, pounce.
DOWN TO THE BONE works on every level. I thought I watching a documentary there is so much verisimilitude. It reminded me of the Dardennes Brothers' films. It is set in Upstate New York and the protagonist is a woman who battles cocaine addiction and how it impacts her, her family and her job. The director, who I believe is a first timer, gets everything right from the characterizations to milieu to just about everything. She gets that blue collar/working class environment down to a t.
Nice to see this film winning some awards. I think it was the Los Angeles Film Critics' Circle that announced its '05 award winners and Laura Fermiglia -- I think that is her name -- the lead actress in this film won "Best Actress."
Fermiglia won't be unknown for long because she has been cast in two upcoming big-budget movies, including one being directed by Martin Scorsese.
