THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 30, 1996 TAG: 9609280044
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: 56 lines
UP UNTIL NOW, especially in the male-dominated movie industry, a chorus of ``Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine'' usually referred to the fellas.
``Walking and Talking,'' written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, attempts to do something about that. Based on the director's diaries, the script takes a look at how friendship between women changes through the years.
Laura and Amelia have been friends since the sixth grade. When Laura finally decides to get engaged to her rather bland, but caring, boyfriend, Frank, Amelia feels left out. Friendships change.
The title of ``Walking and Talking'' is supposedly meant to convey the idea that this is a universal, everyday, nonmovie-like slice-of-life flick. There are more than a few hints, though, that it wants to be commercial and mainstream. For one thing, the guys, while all losers, are not as outright evil as in the other recent male-bashing movies. It is more than a little ironic that the guys actually steal the film. As supporting characters, they provide the eccentric hints that prompt responses from the more universal two leads.
Amelia's longtime boyfriend, Andrew (Liev Schreiber), loves her, but he has a phobia against commitment. In his search for an impersonal, unthreatening relationship, he has resorted to a life of telephone sex. He even has the nerve to ask her for a loan to pay his huge phone bill.
The most believable character in the film is the quirky Bill, a video-store salesman. In what she feels is a relaxing of her standards, Amelia dates the guy even though she thinks he's a weirdo - he likes to go to horror-movie conventions and has an interest in dwarf bowling.
In the meantime, Laura gets ultra uptight about the impending marriage. Frank's little faults suddenly become hugely magnified. A mole turns into a major disfigurement in the movie's most fantasized moment.
Catherine Keener as Amelia and Anne Heche as Laura are contrasting, and yet contributory, actresses who effectively suggest the trauma as well as the joys of the challenging status known as friendship.
``Walking and Talking'' is mildly humorous in what amounts to a scattershot effort to touch varied, and universal, bases. ILLUSTRATION: MIRAMAX
Anne Heche and Todd Field play lovers whose impending marriage
causes problems in ``Walking and Talking.''
GRAPHIC
MOVIE REVIEW
``Walking and Talking''
Cast: Catherine Keener, Anne Heche, Liev Schreiber, Todd Field,
Kevin Corrigan
Director and Writer: Nicole Holofcener
MPAA rating: R (some frank talk, sexual situations)
Mal's rating: **1/2 by CNB