Interstate 60 (2002)

Such a frustrating disappointment

People are voting emotionally.

A different way of telling a story

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Odd, funny, and altogether different than anything I've ever seen life lesson film that has to be seen to be appreciated. I gave it a 9 only because the bad language in some segments was overdone and I'm ex-Navy. Anyhow, watched it last night, loved it and have been pondering it throughout today. Wish I had seen it when I was in my early 20s, might have saved me some grief from bad decisions. Synopsis: young man, confused about life and conflicted because noxious Dad is trying to set him on the path Dad wants with no real regard for what his son wants, makes a wish and one O.W. Grant pops into his life and starts him on a journey of discovery via the phantom Interstate 60. Some really famous names in this and they popped up here and there in a casting treasure trove. We see Chris Cooper (one of my favorites), Kurt Russell, Christopher Lloyd, Michael J. Fox, Ann Margaret (!!) and Gary Oldman was perfect as O.W. Grant. This is a great example of why I love Netflix collection of Independent films, where I found this treat. Make the effort to get it and you won't be disappointed.

Interstate 60 is the best quirky, philosophical road movie you've never heard of. It beats me how a script this tantalizingly good, with a cast so prolific, went so far under everyone's radar. It's made with a karmic, phantom tollbooth-esque sensibility, like if Alice In Wonderland and The Big Empty had a baby, and it was made by the same guys who did Back To The Future. The script is simply a wonder to behold, and I was amazed to find it wasn't based on some best selling book by Richard Linklater or someone. James Marsden plays a guy on the seemingly perfect track. With career lined, a nice girl and everything. Until fate deals him a mysterious hand, and he's prompted to take a trip down 'Interstate 60', a road which doesn't appear on any maps, and seems to not exist at all. He's puzzled to find himself on it anyway though, in a trippy dream of a voyage which puts him face to face with all sorts of outlandish characters, including genie like gentleman O.W. Grant (Gary Oldman having oodles of fun), a serial killer, a police captain of a town addicted to a really strange drug (Kurt Russell), a clairvoyant doctor (Christopher Lloyd), and eventually the elusive girl of his dreams (Amy Smart, unbelievably cute). The trip is meant to teach him something about himself, and through journeying a road that isn't really there, find one that right for him, and will give him the benefits of life in their fullest. For all the colourful, kooky trappings the film is dressed in, and even though the intelligent banter is delivered light heartedly, its actually serious minded stuff that begs attentiveness and contemplation from its audience. There's a surreality to it of course, a certain detachment, but the exchanges of characters couldn't be more grounded in our reality, and more human. There's a cameo from Michael J. Fox, and career best from Chris Cooper as well in a one of the many spot on sequences that show off the film's writing. This ones the definition of a hidden gem, just this side of normal, with a delicious cast that delves into the various concepts they chat about with willing interest, comic deft and an infectiously fun sense of the absurd.

"Neal Oliver" (James Marsden) is a young man who has come to a crossroad in his life. He wants to paint but his father, "Daniel Oliver" (John Bourgeois) wants him to work in a law firm. As luck would have it, while celebrating his 22nd birthday at a local restaurant, an individual of leprechaun and Cheyenne descent named "O.W. Grant" (Gary Oldman) offers him a chance to have a wish granted. But first he has to deliver a package to an address on a non-existent highway named Interstate 60. What follows is a multitude of temptations, trials and lessons which have severe consequences depending on which choices are selected. Both Gary Oldman and James Marsden perform very well while Melyssa Ade (as his girlfriend "Sally"), Deborah Odell (as his lawyer "Valerie McCabe"), Amy Smart (as his dream-girl "Lynn Linden") and Amy Jo Johnson (as the nymphomaniac "Laura") all add nice scenery along the way. Likewise, Ann-Margret (as "Mrs. James") continues to defy age. Be that as it may, there are several thought-provoking scenes and some light-hearted comedy as well. Even so, as good as this film was it could have been even better without the vulgar language and profanity. Why the writer/director (Bob Gale) felt compelled to include it is beyond me. Above average.

I've read some reviews saying that this movie is just a dumbed down lessons for morons. However, I strongly oppose those notions (In fact, if you thought the movie was about "drug is bad" "smoking is bad" "Lawyers are assh*les" then you are probably an uneducated moron who hasn't gone through any higher education.) If you actually think about what's really going on and look past the surface, you should be able to see the true meaning behind what the writer meant. The drug town for example, had nothing to do with "don't do drugs it's bad" message. When you really think about it, it's questioning subjectivity of one's happiness; what YOU think is good/happy isn't universal.The way I see it, the message of the movie had nothing to do with what's good or bad (the superficial message that some reviewers are complaining/disgusted about). Really, I thought it was about seeing things from different perspective, and make you realize that what YOU see may not be what it really is or what others see. Anyway, as for my take on the movie, I really enjoyed it. Sure, the effects are a little weak and there're some flaws here and there, but there's way more story in this movie that will make up for the flaws and give you even more. Honestly compared to this movie, "Avatar" is just a big hype and fancy effects with a grain of overused message slapped on top.