Review of Levity

Introduction

Manual Jordan (Billy Bob Thornton) is a man facing up to life in prison as a result of killing a young boy during a robbery 23 years earlier. Jordan believes that his sentence is just for his crime and is therefore very surprised when a parole board decides that he has served his time and sets him free.

After answering a public phone, Jordan gets a job with dynamic local preacher Miles Evans (Morgan Freeman). Evans tries to reach out to troubled souls and provides Jordan with both a job and a place to sleep. Jordan then returns to the scene of his crime and discovers where Adele (Holly Hunter), the sister of his victim, lives. Initially keeping his distance, he then befriends Adele without letting on his true identity.

Two youngsters then come into his life, and he attempts to steer both onto the straight and narrow. Sofia (Kirsten Dunst) is a bit of a wild child, the daughter of a fading pop star. Her idea of a good time is to get blotted and collapse in the bathroom. Abner Easley (Geoffrey Wigdor) is Adele`s son and out for revenge after being shot, despite his assurances to his mother which the ex-con easily sees through.

As this film meanders towards it`s finale, secrets are revealed which have far-lasting consequences for all involved. Can a man be truly redeemed for the crime he commits?

The writer, Ed Solomon, was previously better known for Men In Black and Bill And Ted`s Bogus Journey, so this is a real change of direction for him and is his first feature film as a director. In spite of this, or maybe because of this, Levity won him the Award of Independent Cinema Owners at the 2003 Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival.

Video

Very dark tones depicting the journey towards redemption, the picture only getting brighter towards the end of the film. Clear picture with no damage, as you would expect.

Audio

Very much a dialogue-driven film, all of which is clear. Comes with a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack, but not really necessary for a film like this.

Features

Just a trailer…

Conclusion

A very slow moving film, one which you may have to watch more than once to get the best out of it. Thornton is superb in a very understated performance as the ex-con who isn`t actually seeking redemption due to his beliefs that are explained several times during the film through narration. You very much get the sense that he is on a spiritual journey, trying to put things right but without the hope of forgiveness that he really wants.

Hunter is superb as the aging but ageless Adele, a woman who is just trying to get on with life and bring up her own child in the right way. She has a cracking line when talking to Thornton earlier on in the film when she says "If you`re trying to hit on me I have to warn you, over the years, my standards have lowered..." Freeman and Dunst are also very good in their respective roles, each carrying secrets that will eventually be revealed, one quite dramatically. Freeman is a powerhouse as a preacher who doesn`t change his tone whether preaching to twenty people or just a loner, whilst Dunst really is effective as a teenage tearaway.

One of the problems with this film for more general watchers will be the pace. It is very slow, the drama builds but there are few real twists and only a couple of major dramatic moments. It`s a good film, but only for the most patient.