Softly, softly down the path of
passion
Treading
steadily in the well-proven footsteps of La Ronde, Love
Actually, and Coeurs, Feast of Love again
follows the amorous adventures of a group of people who are interlinked
by fate. Before you say ho hum and look for another review - hold
on - this film has the benefit of Morgan Freeman in a major role.
His contribution is enough to lift the material to the level of
pleasing entertainment. Fortunately he’s supported by Greg
Kinnear and a good cast. The movie’s not ashamed of wearing
its heart on its sleeve; especially in the final touching scene
which is definitely a two tissue job.
Freeman narrates the film with his usual dulcet
tones and precise diction always good value, playing a typical
Freeman part as the lovable “grandfather” figure with
warmth and wisdom. His role is to hand out philosophical advise
to the young lovelorn, which he does with coffee and sympathy.
Freeman is one of the good guys of the screen, everyone wants
him for a father.
In a Portland coffee shop, professor Harry Stevenson
(Morgan Freeman) watches over the romantic attraction of the locals,
giving advice to those not so fortunate in love. Despite his own
tragic loss of a son to drugs, Harry has been happily married
for years to Esther (Jane Alexander). Harry’s a close friend
of slightly dippy Bradley Thomas (Greg Kinnear) the proprietor
of the coffee shop, a romantic soul who seems especially unlucky
in the choice of his beloved. While he thinks he’s found
the perfect woman in his wife Kathryn (Selma Blair), after being
married only a short time, she leaves him for another woman.
So
Bradley is left only with the dog, a very misjudged gift to Kathryn.
Yet undaunted and thinking he’ll find true love next time,
Bradley becomes entranced with Diana (Radha Mitchell) a real estate
agent. While she and Bradley engage in a passionate affair, Diana
is also having a fling with highflyer David (Billy Burke) who
can’t understand what she sees in dim Bradley.
Also in the melting pot are Oscar (Toby Hemingway)
and Chloe (Alexa Davalos), who both work for Bradley at the coffee
shop. They also fall madly in love. Gradually the light mood changes
to dark. Other plot elements include a fortune teller who gives
refunds when the news isn’t good, a house with a curse,
and nude love making at night on the local football ground. In
fact nudity is a feature of the film, just about all the cast
get their gear off - except fortuitously Freeman and Jane Alexander.
You’ll be pleased to know that the cast are good looking
without their clothes and while there more sex scenes than SBS
on a Saturday night, none seem gratuitous. Some might say it’s
a feast for the eyes.
The outstanding performances are from Morgan Freeman
(The Bucket List) and Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine)
who adds some depth to his role, and their scenes together are
enjoyable. The film is directed by veteran film maker Robert Benton
who wrote Bonnie and Clyde in 1967, and subsequently
directed Kramer vs. Kramer and more recently The
Human Stain. While this is not up with his best work, it’s
a pleasant excursion into well traversed country thanks to Freeman
and Kinnear giving of their best.
Based on the novel by Charles Baxter with screenplay
by Allison Burnett, the film was shot in Portland, Oregon which
gives a nice sense of realism to many scenes. But there are occasional
touches of brilliance; as when the high angle camera shows a wide
shot of the ambulance stalled by flag waving crowds. Feast
of Love is a feel-good movie with poignant moments yet a
sense of optimism in a world that needs it.
John Bale
