Film Review: Tumbleweeds (1999)
Thanks to Tarantino and his acolytes, the audience at the end of 20th Century began to associate "independent film" with petty criminals, little drug bags, and dismembered bodies. On the other hand, in most cases, independent, low-budget films have traditionally focused on much simpler themes – ordinary people and their everyday problems. Tumbleweeds, 1999 drama and directorial debutof American actor Gavin O'Connor, falls into this latter category. Based on a semi-autobiographical screenplay by O'Connor's former wife Angela Shelton, this film is a simple story that managed to impress critics at the Sundance Festival. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the concept and the fact that O'Connor's work had limited distribution led major Hollywood studios to replicate the formula in a similar but much more expensive and star-studded film Anywhere But Here directed by Wayne Wang, which turned into massive failure. While O'Connor managed to make his mark, the damage had already been done - deprived of an audience tired of the same concept, he had to settle for an "Oscar" nomination for his lead actress Janet McTeer, who would be considered an underdog in that contest from the start.
At the beginning of the film, we are introduced to Mary Jo Walker (played by McTeer), a relatively attractive woman in her late thirties who, after a fight with her drunk boyfriend, decides to seek happiness in another city and state. For her 12-year-old daughter Ava (played by Kimberly Brown), such a turn of events is hardly unexpected, given that Mary Jo has an unfortunate tendency to choose men who, after few months turn out to be alcoholics, drug addicts, abusers, pathologically jealous, or something similar. Tired of constantly moving around America, plagued by asthma, and driven by the desire to finally settle in one place, Ava manages to persuade her mother to move to San Diego. At first, everything seems to be going well - Mary Jo gets a job as a telephone operator, and Ava gets the role of Romeo in a school play. However, when Mary Jo accidentally meets Jack (played by O'Connor), a kind and charming truck driver she met on the road, things will once again take their usual course - the mother and daughter move into Jack's house, and it's only a matter of time before everything falls apart. But this time, Ava is ready to do anything to keep her mother in one place.
It can be said that Tumbleweeds is not a film that will enter film anthologies or achieve cult status. It is clear that O'Connor is a debut director with relatively little experience who tries a little too hard to underline the "independent" character of his film with an overly frequent and not entirely meaningful use of handheld camera work. On the other hand, O'Connor was much more successful in his choice of actors, including himself, and that compensated for his lack of directing skills, ensuring that the story flows smoothly and keeps the audience engaged throughout. English actress Janet McTeer deserves the most praise here, not only making the character of the irresponsible mother endearing but also mastering the US Southern accent to perfection. 12-year-old Kimberly Brown is equally brilliant as a child who, by circumstances, is more mature than her parent - she is equally convincing in scenes where she scolds her own mother and in those where she cries over a stolen hamster. However, the true acting gem of the film can be found in Jay O. Sanders, a character actor specializing in villain roles, who excels here as a Mary Jo’s quiet, unassuming but well-intentioned colleague at work. Strong performances significantly enhance the overall impression of the film, which, apart from O'Connor's somewhat lacking direction, suffers from unnecessary filler scenes, a not-so-cleverly conceived happy ending, and clumsy attempts at humour. Nevertheless, Tumbleweeds can be viewed as a charming film and one of the rare examples of an "independent" film suitable for family audiences.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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