How much truth is good and needed? Maybe all of it.
Heights (2004)An interwoven series of stories, with a stellar performance by Glenn Close as a Broadway actress (and aggressive cougar) and a steady convincing performance by Elizabeth Banks as her daughter struggling for her own path. A third thread is multi-faceted, and a bit facile, but its important, too. That is, a man is engaged to this daughter but he seems to have had—or might still have— feelings for men.
If the improbabilities of coincidence seem to much (as they do to some in "Crash" or in half of Shakespeare) then this won't hold water after awhile. But as a tightly controlled piece that has characters interacting on several planes, as a theater kind of piece made for film, it's really good. It helps a lot that the acting is intensely right without being overcooked. And the direction, but the director, Christ Terrio, brings his literary background (and limited Hollywood experience) to bear very well.
It's become a commonplace to film in New York with all its new upper working class charms. But that's part of the appeal to the film. There are glimpses of the theater, some rooftop views, and so on. And lots of "regular" New Yorkers, people striving for relationship and career success. Which is what we all are going through at one point or another. And really, that's where the pleasure lies, so give it a go. A good one.
score 8/10
secondtake 15 December 2015
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3371945/35347
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