|
A
thicket of purple lantana blossoms fills up the screen, while a
busy bee buzzes on by. As the camera zooms in and begins its
slow descent, the chirping of the crickets become more
noticeable, and the dense intertwining wooden shrubbery cast a
gloomy pall to the surrounding. With the little light that does
filter through the foliage, the camera pans around, and we are
able to discern ever so slowly the lifeless body of a woman.
Such is the opening scene of “Lantana”, a wonderfully
layered film about the complexities of love and marriage, with
the added bonus of an intriguing whodunit murder mystery.
“Lantana” focuses on two married couples, facing some of the
most pressing issues any relationship has to deal with – trust
and infidelity. Detective Leon Zat (Anthony Lapaglia) is having
an affair with Jane (Rachael Blake), and is his wife Sonja
(Kerry Armstrong) suspects something. She is torn between denial
and straightforward confrontation, so she secretly sees a
psychiatrist, Dr. Valerie Somers (Barbara Hershey). The sessions
between the women become the initial link that leads into the
other thread of narrative. Valerie is married to John (Geoffrey
Rush). With years in a waning marriage, compounded by the loss
of their only daughter, the two begin to evaluate their
relationship. They say, “I love you”, but wonder if
they’re still emotionally truthful in saying the words. Then,
there are also supporting characters that add to “Lantana”’s
colorful bouquet, including Jane’s separated husband and her
neighbors who seem to have everything going well for them.
“Lantana” then shifts gears when Dr. Valerie Somers
disappears without a trace. As if the complexities of marriage
aren’t enough, they add a puzzling twist to the story. Was it
her husband who decided it was finally enough? Was it
Valerie’s easy way out of a rut? Was it a disgruntled client
of hers? Or was there someone else?
Just like intertwining stems, these characters cross paths as
they tread through the web of suspicion and deception.
The first half of the movie is a complex and insightful
evaluation of marriage, with its many scenes of intimate
discussions and heated exchanges. Raw emotions emanate from the
screen as these characters question, regret and blame each other
over their state of affairs. With a great screenplay,
“Lantana” feels very authentic The second half supplements
the mysteries of marriage, by making it a mystery in a more
physical sense. Valerie’s disappearance is a mere catalyst to
the overall sense of deceit and secrecy. “Lantana” has a
truly wonderful cast. Anchored by very strong performances as
expected from Lapaglia, Hershey and Rush, it is the unfamiliar
faces that stood out, namely Kerry Armstrong and Rachael Blake.
With an Altman-esque crisscross interaction and a
Kieslowski-esque play on coincidences, “Lantana” is a great
film, despite a late bloom in December. It is smarter than most
murder mysteries and just as engrossing as any film about
adultery. “Lantana” could have stuck with just one genre,
but effectively combines both. Go ahead and take a whiff of
“Lantana”.
Running
time is 121 minutes. Film is Not Rated, but if I were to
rate it, I’d give it an R rating for adult themes and
sexuality.
TOP
|
