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Bounce 2000 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Don Roos
PG-13, 108 min. (language, sensuality) |
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Starring: Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natasha Henstridge, Jennifer Grey, Tony Goldwyn, Joe Morton, Alex D. Linz, David Dorfman, Caroline Aaron
Producers: Michael Besman, Steve Golin
Screenplay: Don Roos
Cinematography: Robert Elswit
Distributor: Miramax Films
Released: 11.17.00 (Wide) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
Director/writer Don Roos has found something here, an unforced and authentic romance that is moving and wonderfully
acted. His film, Bounce, is so unassuming and well-crafted that one can't help but smile at its effectiveness in a genre
that has been sorely misconstrued. His characters and their lives are so intelligently portrayed that it's hard to believe
one is actually watching a truly inspired, heartfelt romance. Bounce is a welcome change and addition to a genre that
looked to never recover from its cliché-riddled disease of contrived storytelling. Although the film may have
elements that stretch believability, it never loses its center and therefore is one of the better romances in years.
It's important to point out the intelligence and clever dialogue that elevate Roos' film. He never panders to the insidious
dialogue that hinders other similar films; instead he incorporates real-world occurences and authenticity in his characters'
lives and conversations. Because these characters are identifiable and palpable, you can't help but be moved when
they reach a catharsis that is one of the best written scenes in years. For this, Roos deserves considerable praise. But
maybe his work here shouldn't be unexpected, since his previous work, The Opposite of Sex, was one of the better
films of 1998.
Although the storyline is a bit of a stretch, the characters are not. As the film opens, an airport lounge sees three people -
Buddy (Ben Affleck), an advertising mogul, Mimi (Natasha Henstridge), a stranded passenger, and Greg (Tony Goldwyn),
who has traded his ticket to be bumped to another flight - who are experiencing flight delays. When Mimi seductively offers
Buddy a place to stay in her hotel room, Buddy instinctively offers his plane ticket to Greg, whose family is anxiously
awaiting his return. When Flight 82 goes down somewhere between Chicago and Los Angeles, Buddy must confront his
own guilt and eventually meets Greg's now widowed wife, Abby (Gwyneth Paltrow), and her two children (Alex D. Linz and David Dorfman).
Of course, Buddy and Abby fall in love, but his well-kept secret about his contribution to Greg's demise threatens to doom
their relationship.
Bounce deals with regret and misplaced blame, as both Buddy and Abby struggle to overcome their uneasy consciences.
In one way or another, they both feel responsible for Greg's death, and find some solace in each other's arms. But is their
bond strong enough to withstand Buddy's secret? Roos takes great care to craft their relationship with small steps, each
leading to a stronger bond between them. Their relationship is incredibly unforced and believable. Although Affleck
and Paltrow are attractive leads, their exterior doesn't take away from the strength of their performances, which are
impressive. It's obvious they have been directed by Roos to understate their roles, to downplay cliches. The result
is an effort that intensely personal and authentic.
Bounce has one of the best conclusions I've seen in a romance in quite some time. Instead of shifting the melodrama
into high gear, Roos has intentionally toned down their final scene, which doesn't give in to a single predictable action.
Instead, here we have two adults, who are close enough already to know that superfluous actions are unnecessary. They
simply have a conversation of forgiveness and acceptance that is like a rebuke to other shallow romantic films that don't
understand the difference between geniune affection and superficial love. Bounce is one of the best romances in years.
© 2000 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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