Tuesday, May 4, 2010
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
Touching Home
The American Dream, With Dad
As Flawed Umpire
Identical twins Noah Miller and Logan Miller flank Ed Harris, who plays their
father Charlie Winston in "Touching Home", which opened last Friday in San
Francisco, San Rafael and Sacramento .
David Moir/California Film
Institute
By
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Rare is a year when in late April or early May one looks forward to writing a
review about a truly great film, but "Touching Home" has arrived. It
stands solidly, resolutely and even majestically as an impressive directing
debut for the Miller Brothers, identical twins Logan and Noah Miller, who wrote,
produce and star in their maiden big screen vehicle. The film opened last
Friday in San Francisco, San Rafael and Sacramento and opens on Friday in
Berkeley, Folsom, Petaluma and San Jose, California.
"Touching Home" plays as quintessential Americana, a passionate and heartfelt
chronicle of the American dream, imbued with the spirit of western frontier and
intimate family drama. The film is based on the true story of the twins'
father Dan Miller, who struggled with alcoholism and died in a Northern
California jail almost four and a half years ago. Ed Harris gives an
award-worthy performance as Charlie Winston, a slightly fictional variation of
the late Mr. Miller. The portrayal is one of Mr. Harris' finest screen
works. Charlie gambles as easily as he lies. He lies as easily as he
drinks. He's lost at sea, without a rudder or compass.
Set and shot about 20 miles north of San Francisco in Fairfax, "Touching Home"
tells the story of Clint Winston (Noah Miller), who wants to pitch in the big
leagues; Arizona spring trials are his meal ticket. Lane Winston (Logan
Miller) has aspirations too but he's reluctant to pursue them. Clint and
Lane work at a construction site to build savings for a future that puts them on
track for the big time. Their dreams are on a collision course with
Charlie's nightmares.
"Touching Home", in which its identical brethren tote raw, powerful
performances, excels to a great degree for a freshman effort. The film's
undercurrents are gentle, dignified and sincere, echoing the sensibility of some
of the rustic dramas of the 1960s and 1970s. The film has a big, bold
heart and is engaging, mixing love of baseball, family and the pursuit of the
American dream.
The Miller Brothers have the toughest assignment
in "Touching Home". They have to play themselves in their first-ever big
screen appearance. It's a tall task for anyone to pull off, but the reason
the Millers succeed is because they don't so much play themselves as they
are themselves. They know their strengths and weaknesses. They
know how to flex their muscles. They know how to apply a work ethic that
is rugged and tenacious. They know they are not actors. Inspiration,
their late father, guts and blue-collar willpower get them through, and that's
all the better for this remarkable debut. Only they could have made this
very personal story, and Logan and Noah resonate with audiences very well.
Supplementing the Millers with good work are Robert Forster and Brad Dourif.
They may be playing film characters we're familiar with, but you can't help feel
a comfort, security and strength from their work, as well as great confidence
emanating from these first-time filmmakers as they direct this poignant,
heartwarming, wonderfully rendered American drama.
Logan and Noah Miller flank actor Ed Harris at the world premiere of their debut
film "Touching Home" at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San
Rafael, CA on April 29. The film opened last Friday in San Francisco, San
Rafael and Sacramento.
The film opens on Friday in Berkeley, Folsom, Petaluma and San Jose. Omar P.L.
Moore/PopcornReel.com
With: Lee Meriwether, Evan Jones, Ishiah Benben, Brandon Hanson.
"Touching Home" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association Of America for
thematic material involving alcoholism, language, brief violence, and smoking. The film's running time is one hour and
48 minutes.
COPYRIGHT 2010. POPCORNREEL.COM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Read more movie reviews and stories from Omar
here.
Read Omar's "Far-Flung Correspondent" reports for America's pre-eminent Film
Critic Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times -
here
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