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Movie Review: “Digging For Fire,” Joe Swanberg’s Rumination On Marriage And Mid-Life Crisis, Digs Deep

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The discovery of a bone and a gun send a husband and wife on separate adventures over the course of a weekend.

Joe Swanberg is a busy man. According to his filmography, since 2003, he has been involved in over 76 films, 25 of which he directed. Often shot in the “mumblecore” style – introduced to the world by the Duplass Brothers with their 2005 cult indie “The Puffy Chair”, it involves focusing on the story over production quality – Swanberg’s films often have a loose format, paying less attention to narrative structure, and letting their actors’ mostly-improvised performances carry the film.

The director/writer/editor/actor/producer/cinematographer has come a long way since his modest 2006 effort “LOL” (which featured Greta Gerwig in one of her first starring roles). The budgets of his films went up – but not by much. The star power went up too – but instead of hiring A-listers for their mass appeal, Swanberg tends to find actors that fit their roles. He stays true to his indie roots, letting the story unfold naturally, and in a uniquely entertaining fashion. He grips our attention – gasp! – not with dinosaurs and bombastic thrills, but with dialogue and little nuances.

Swanberg’s most recent directorial venture, the “dramedy” “Happy Christmas”, starred Anna Kendrick and Lena Dunham, and displayed a maturity and poignancy reminiscent of Cassavetes’ early works. “Digging for Fire”, which he co-wrote with his “Drinking Buddies” star (and one of the leads on the popular sitcom “New Girl”), Jake Johnson, marks yet another step in the right direction for the young director (he’s only 33 years old), this time bringing to mind the works of Belgian Cannes festival darlings, the Dardenne brothers. “Digging for Fire” is comparable to their masterpieces in its verisimilitude, affection for the low-middle class, credible performances, and a lyrical, deeply touching ending that sneaks up on you.

“Digging for Fire”’ is less of a story and more of a peek at a couple’s life, over the course of a weekend. Having just moved into a new home with a young child, Tim (Jake Johnson) and Lee (Rosemarie DeWitt) resort to yoga sessions to relieve their post-pregnancy/mid-life crisis anxiety. Tim is more of a blue-collar guy, who works at a public school, and Lee comes from a wealthy family, and is lost after the birth, attempting to define herself as more than just a “mom” (she reads books on marriage early on in the film, signaling trouble-to-come). One day, Tim discovers an old bone and a gun in the woods; Lee dismisses it as nothing, but her husband instantly becomes fixated on unraveling the mystery.

Tension rises – they disagree on their choice for a pre-school for their child, each prejudiced by their own upbringing. She resents him for having low aspirations, and he resents her for being the provider. Lee goes to visit her parents, leaving Tim at home to do taxes; instead, he gets stoned and barbecues with his friends. The story-lines separate: we follow Tim and his buddies (including the sensible Phil, played by comedian Mike Birbiglia, and the “ticking-time-bomb” Ray, played by one of the best and most versatile actors currently working, Sam Rockwell), as they party and help Tim with the digging; while Lee confronts her parents, her friends – and herself – about her feelings.

The more Tim and his friends dig, finding old license plates and bones that may or may not be human, the more obsessed Tim gets. The timid Phil leaves, but Max (Brie Larson), Alicia (Anna Kendrick) and Tango (Chris Messina) show up, distracting everyone with cocaine, skinny-dipping and general rowdiness. Tim briefly tries to connect with Ray, but discovers that they’re on completely different wavelengths. Without much hesitation, Tim leaves the party and resumes his digging. The sexy Max joins him, first intrigued by the prospect of a discovering a corpse (and by Tim’s excitement), then instantaneously growing bored. Tim then finds an old shoe in the hole, but when he proudly brings it back to the party, everyone’s too enamored with each other to care; Tim is isolated, a married man who can’t connect with his horny, arrested-development mates. When he tries the shoe on later, it fits him…

dig

Next day, Max comes back and helps Tim with the digging. He talks openly about the perils of aging to the younger girl. Her temporary enthrallment over a discovered bag of bones excites him. She showers at his place, raising suspicions from Phil, who attempts to stop them from going to dinner, unsuccessfully.

In the meantime, Lee struggles with her wealth and its connotations, and getting used to… well, reality. Unable to connect with her parents – played by Sam Elliot (without the iconic mustache – what did you do, Sam?!) and Judith Light – Lee visits her rich friends Bob (Ron Livingston) and Squiggy (Melanie Lynskey); the latter ditches Lee, depriving her of a rare opportunity to go out and let loose. So Lee sets out by herself – just to end up at a bar with handsome Ben (Orlando Bloom), who protects her from a drunkard, which eventually leads to stitches and a moonlight walk by the ocean.

As Tim and Max bond, first somewhat-passionately, then steadily more awkwardly, Lee bonds with Ben… well, I’ve already described too much. What Tim finally finds in the grave I’ll also let you discover. As with most Swanberg films, it’s about the journey. Let’s just say, sometimes it’s best to leave certain things buried.

“Digging for Fire” is brimming with insightful dialogue. There’s a beautiful and succinct “cremation vs. burial” discussion, which to me, functioned as a metaphor for our past, for hidden secrets that sometimes need unraveling, and at other times demand complete eradication. Here’s another memorable tidbit, voiced eloquently by Sam Elliot (how else can he voice stuff?): “Being in love… What is that? Getting what you want? Or is it giving somebody what they want… Sacrificing, if you want to call it that?”

The film touches upon acute observations on marriage, death, friendship, love, wealth, growing up, obsession – and even the unexpected wisdom of Uber drivers… The smallest parts get to shine – Swanberg’s specialty – such as Rockwell, stealing scenes shamelessly, per usual; or the talented Brie Larson, whose career I’ve been following since she was in the popular show “The United States of Tara”, and who has since become a mainstay in great indie films like “Short Term 12” and “The Spectacular Now”. Jake Johnson and Rosemarie DeWitt both give their most subtly complex performances to date.

The film’s minor flaws include its slightness (c’mon, Swanberg, make an even bigger (thematically-speaking), more complex/intricate study of marital foes!), and the Orlando Bloom storyline, which could have used a bit more flesh. But those are minor quibbles. More films like this should be made in America, and it’s a shame that, in this day and age of superhero-driven multiplex fare, they’re restricted to limited screenings and VOD channels. Bravo to Swanberg, and here’s to his next project.

In select theaters and at the Landmark Magnolia in Dallas August 28th

 
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Alex Saveliev

Alex graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a BA in Film & Media Arts and studied journalism at the Northwestern University in Chicago. While there, he got acquainted with the late Roger Ebert, who supported and inspired Alex in his career as a screenwriter and film critic. Alex has produced, written and directed a short zombie film, “Parched,” which is being distributed internationally and he is developing a series for a TV network, and is in pre-production on a major motion picture.