 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Angus (1995) | |
| Director | Patrick Read Johnson |
| Screenplay | Jill Gordon |
| Producer | Dawn Steel, Charles Roven |
| Release Date | September 15, 1995 |
| MPAA rating | PG-13 |
| Color/B&W | Color |
| Aspect ratio | 1.85 : 1 |
| Runtime, Length | 90 minutes, 8,114 feet |
| Alternate Titles | どんな時も (Donna toki mo) (Japan); Angus Voll Cool (Germany) |
Angus is a 1995 film based on the short story "A Brief Moment In The Life of Angus Bethune" by Chris Crutcher. The film stars Charlie Talbert and James Van Der Beek in their first film roles, as well as Chris Owen, Ariana Richards, and Academy Award winners George C. Scott, Kathy Bates, and Rita Moreno.
Some consider the film as a superficial after-school special for its familiar underdog story and inherent preachiness. (The fact that many other films relating to obesity came out at about the same time, such as Heavyweights (1995) and Heavy (1996), the latter starring Pruitt Taylor Vince, did not help.) Others conclude that it more accurately portrays high school life than most other films about adolescence, since it takes a critical view of obesity, bullying, self-esteem, and high school inclusiveness, while highlighting the importance of assuring oneself in an ideologically competitive world. The film approaches the subject matter with honesty, wit, and warmth.
Of note is the performance of newcomer Charlie Talbert as the title character and the humorous chemistry between him and his grandfather (Scott), the latter whose philosophy can be summed up in his recurring line: "Screw 'em!"
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
Angus Bethune (Talbert) is a 14-year-old boy who, despite his talents as a football player and in science class, holds deep insecurities about himself. His high school peers, led by the handsome Rick Sanford (Van Der Beek) and his complacent cohorts, regularly harass Angus for not being "normal," since Angus is pathetically overweight and is named after a cow. Because of this, Angus applies for a science school where he hopes to be free of the constant humiliation. Such infamy has shied Angus away from revealing his feelings to his secret crush, the blonde cheerleader Melissa Lefevre (Richards), for fear that she will reject him, and because she is currently dating Rick. Rick, however, is not lost on Angus' wish: As the ultimate prank, he rigs an election so that Angus and Melissa will dance together in the upcoming Winter Ball as King and Queen, respectively.
Frightened upon learning this, Angus gets help from his best (and only) friend Troy Wedberg (Owen), his mother Meg (Bates), and his narcoleptic Grampa. His grandfather tells him about a dance move called the Irish Swoon that he claims is a guaranteed lady-pleaser, but Angus fears that his largeness makes him an inept dancer and would embarass both him and Melissa. To fix this, Grampa takes Angus to Madame Rulenska (Moreno), where despite Angus' best efforts he comes out worse than before (and injuring the hapless Madame in the process).
One day after football practice, Angus opens his locker and sees that his favorite pair of boxers are missing. Angus and Troy learn later with their own eyes that their fellow quarterback Rick hoisted his boxers up the flagpole for the school to see, which then fly squarely onto passerby Melissa's face. Angus storms home in anger, but Rick and company quickly kidnap Troy, asking him for anything that would embarass Angus at the Winter Ball. Troy refuses their request and tries to escape, only to break his arm as he trips to the floor while Rick gives Troy an ultimatum.
Meanwhile, Angus helps Grampa prepare for his marriage to the young thirty-something named April. As Angus waits with Grampa in his room on the day of the wedding and confides with him his love for Melissa, he tries to wake him, but he quickly discovers that he is dead. Distraught, Angus opts to stay home for a few days (time in which, for fear that Rick will hurt him even more, Troy procures a videotape to Rick).
Later that week, while cleaning up from the wedding, Angus receives a box from April and opens it, revealing the plum suit that Angus had earlier rejected. Resolved to grant Grampa's wish, he rejects an interview from the science school he applied to, wears his plum suit and marches to the school gymnasium, where the dance is held. Angus meets Melissa, and the two converse for the first time. As they are introduced to the students, Rick plays Troy's videotape on the monitors, which shows Angus dancing with an inflatable doll. The students laugh while Melissa runs out of the gym, and Angus follows. Outside the gym, Angus apologizes, yet surprisingly Melissa shows her disgust with Rick and reveals that she is anorexic. Finding common ground, the two return to the gym and dance, even as Melissa helps him out with some of the steps. After the two receive a mild reception from the students, Rick scolds Melissa, while Angus comes to her defense. It is here that Angus finally confronts Rick and petitions him to realize that there are in fact many people that don't fit Rick's idea of "normal," are unwantingly ostracized for it, and are fed up with the humiliation. Rick refuses Angus' plea; nevertheless, the students congratulate Angus for taking a stand.
At the end, Angus walks Melissa home, where she gives Angus a good-night kiss as they part. Angus walks to the street with a smile denoting a sureness he has never felt before. From her window, Melissa secretly views Angus walking confidently into the darkness.
During the film, Angus takes counsel from two people: Troy Wedberg, a small and geeky boy who attempts to turn Angus into a "large pathetic virgin with a new look" by giving Angus an edgier style and encouraging him to exercise in hopes that Angus will look more attractive, and Angus' grandfather, an assured yet narcoleptic crank who readies himself to marry a woman thirty years his junior. His grandfather encourages him to go to the ball by ordering Angus to stop caring about what everyone else will think of him and his pairing with the popular Melissa. Thus we are introduced to two opposing ideals of which Angus must choose: Adopt a new personality based on looks that would give him the long-term acceptance he longs, or accept himself as incurably overweight by overcoming his shame and confronting his oppressors. The question is exemplified in a scene where Angus, Grampa, and Troy shop in a tuxedo store, where the only suit available in Angus' size comes in the color of plum. Troy mocks the suit ("Put it on a dead guy and bury it.") while Angus begs Grampa to buy a more "socially acceptable" black suit even though all of the black suits available at the store fit him too tightly. Grampa, however, insists that the suit will turn Angus into an individual that can stand out from the crowd.
The film once had scenes featuring Angus' homosexual dad. Producer Dawn Steel at first approved the idea, but upon seeing a test screening she asked director Johnson to cut it. Hence, we are told early in the film that Angus' dad died while he was being born.
The film's soundtrack is regarded as one of the best in describing the alternative rock scene of the time. (In fact, Angus' penchant for flannel and denim in the film is reminiscent of the age of grunge, which had just reached its twilight.) However, several key songs are absent in the CD that was released, most notably "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star, the song that was played as Angus and Melissa danced.
Weezer offered to write two songs: One titled "Wanda", which references the earlier version of the script, and "You Gave Your Love To Me Softly." Only the latter was used.
"Am I Wrong" by Love Spit Love features the marching band from director Patrick Read Johnson's high school.
|
||||
| View Live Article | This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License | |
||
