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DRAGONFLY
review by Joseph B. Mauceri
REVIEW: In an age of medical and legal television series that habitually examine the human condition in these stress filled professions where they are forced to constantly examine moral and ethical issues, they often seem bereft of a sense of that part of the human condition known as spirituality. The story of DRAGONFLY is extremely effective because it presents us with a contemporary man of steel as he struggles to deal with a situation he has now experience with ö a faith crisis. Surrounded by peers who share his views, Dr. Joe Darrow (COSTNER) must take this journey by himself, the first and biggest lap of faith for him is in accepting the existence of a soul, and an existence beyond death. The filmmakers employee universal signs and symbols of the afterlife in an effort to make the film accessible to a variety of belief systems, and succeed. As in any good myth, Darrow is the "every man" and we are allowed to join him on his quest. Tom Shadyac again shows he is an actor's director, equally skilled at directing a comedy, drama or thriller, even one with spiritual overtones. He puts Costner through an emotionally charged dramatic obstacle to come up with one of, if not the finest performance of his career. Shadyac focuses the narrative of Darrows' story without alienating the other characters. He allows the viewer to feel as if there are no minor players in the tale, creating a rich canvas to set his drama against. Costner allows the viewer access to his personal struggle so we can sympathize with his crisis. Shadyac captures some great moments in his closeups of Costner where we can see his outward expression of his internalized struggle. In orchestrating the drama, Shadyac uses the visual effects to accentuate moments, great suspense and add a few dramatic crescendoes. Given the spiritual themes of the film, the effects take on a more organic feel. They feel similar to those used in "Ghost." They add a sense of urgency to the drama and deliver a few "boo" moments. It might be accidental, but I think Shadyac has a keen sense of myth and builds takes his visual effects to another level by incorporating some symbolism into them. As the late Joseph Campbell would suggest, it communicates to the audience deeper level that simply as an effect. Composer John Debney's score is the final component of the film that makes DRAGONFLY an exceptional cinematic journey for the viewer. The piece quietly moves through the background of the film enhancing the drama, adding urgency to Darrow's quest, depth to the spiritual revelations and fostering the atmosphere, while creating tension. Tom Shadyac's DRAGONFLY can be compared to Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." The director works with Costner to deliver a performance that is on par with Jimmy Stewart's. A contemporary film especially in terms of character and setting, DRAGONFLY is also more attuned to the main character's spiritual journey. What could have been a less effective film in another director's hands, Shadyac presents a clear and exacting vision that enables the viewer to personalize the drama and experience the spiritual quest of Costner's character. In our tragic times, DRAGONFLY offers a bitter sweet cinematic experienced that we can all share ad come away from with a bit of hope and inspiration. OFFICIAL
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SYNOPSIS:
Dr. Joe Darrow (Costner) is a respected expert in trauma and triage,
and head of emergency services for Chicago Memorial Hospital. When
tragedy claims the life of his wife, his professional knowledge
provides little comfort. Emily Darrow (Thompson), also a physician,
was on a medical mercy mission in Venezuela. As he struggles to
reach her, her life is taken in a bus accident on a remote mountain
road. Joe tries to get past her death, but reminders of Emily are
everywhere, among them images of dragonflies. The image is her personal
totem because of a birthmark. Joe tries to distract himself by keeping
his promise to his wife as he looks in on Emily's patients in the
pediatric oncology ward. In talking with them Joe finds that they
offer a surprising link to her. To the kids, Darrow is not
a burned-out E.R. doc, but rather "Emily's Joe." Some of these
young patients survive near-death experiences, and Joe begins to
believe that Emily is trying to communicate with him - from the
other side. While Joe's co-workers and friends worry about
his mental stability, Joe comes to realize that he must draw on
faith - rather than fact - for answers to his questions.