Surprisingly successful HBO film, which takes on the tricky multi-layered task of making a fictionalized docudrama about the making of "An
American Family" a 10 hour PBS documentary series that was the direct forerunner the surreal and semi-real world of 'reality
television' we know today.
James Gandolfini plays James Gilbert, who has the brilliant idea to study a 'typical' American Family on film, almost as if it were an archaeological
document. But of course no family is 'typical' (particularly the upscale Loud family), and all sorts of sticky moral, ethical and cinematic walls are
crashed into. How objective can a documentary really be? What is, or should be off-limits of a prying camera? How do the personalities
and needs of the film-makers effect the behavior and choices of their subjects, subtly or sometimes very dramatically?
It also explores questions about family, as did the original series, but with the value of the passage of years to give context and distance.
What is normal? Who are the heroes and villains in the complexities of family life? Are things ever that simple? Why do so many of us want
to be seen, known? Or at least think we do?
It's very impressive that an 86 minute film can address so many of these questions so intelligently, entertainingly, disturbingly and ultimately
movingly. The acting is solid, with Diane Lane giving the most impressive performance of her career, disappearing into the role of Pat Loud, the
confused, self-searching mother.
While one could validly argue that there was more to explore (e.g. why was this series such a phenomenon? Why are we so driven to watch the
train wrecks of other's lives?) this film does a terrific job of self-awarely playing with multiple layers and meanings of 'reality'. Not least when
we briefly see footage of the real family cut in. Not surprising from these filmmakers, who also played with various levels of drama vs. reality
so well in the wonderful "American Splendor".
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