BOOKENDS is playing at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look. Here’s my spoiler-free take:
BOOKENDS is one of those films that gets the benefit of the doubt thanks to two fantastic supporting performances from Academy Award winner, F. Murray Abraham, and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL’s Caroline Aaron. The elderly couple who they play, Saul and Miriam, are full of love and resilience, showcasing a deep bond that has been strengthened over decades. As they navigate the challenges of aging, they display a tender and playful dynamic. Their journey reveals how they confront their vulnerabilities and support one another, making their relationship a poignant highlight of the film.
Despite the compelling performances, BOOKENDS falls apart due to two key elements:
- Noam Ash: His script writing is top-notch towards the end of the 2nd and 3rd acts. However, his acting is middle-of-the-road. This is a shame, since his performance as the protagonist, Nate, is key to BOOKENDS’ success as an independent feature.
- The pacing: The first act of this film is slow. This is due to a bland paint-by-numbers setup that becomes compelling once Saul and Miriam enter the 2nd act, and the B-story of one of the characters’ health pulls the audience in, making them care more about everything.
In BOOKENDS, one of the characters states, “People forget details, but they never forget how you make them feel.” By the end of this feature, I was emotionally invested in the supporting characters’ stories and forgave Ash for the details he missed in his performance and for his first-act fumbles.
Final Thought: The bookend in the movie BOOKENDS is much stronger than the pages that come before it.
BOOKENDS premieres at SBIFF on Mon 2/9 – 6:00 PM
