Ray Pride

With the charming "Sherman's March," (1986) a self-portrait of many digressions, laconic documentarian Ross McElwee could be considered the avuncular papa of the contemporary self-referential documentary. Working with the lope of his mind and lilt of his drawling voiceovers--heartbreakingly rich--he can seduce a viewer into his world of dither and bother. "Bright Leaves" doesn't match up to "Sherman's," which, in its journey across a landscape of ex-girlfriends, pins a kind of male personality as wittily and succinctly for its time as Woody Allen did in his best moments. Boston-based McElwee again returns to his native North Carolina, searching for his family roots in tobacco. He's convinced that the family history, including the slow death of his great-grandfather's holdings at the hands of the rival Duke family, was the source of an obscure Gary Cooper melodrama, 1950's "Bright Leaf." When things don't turn out as expected--including a visit to co-star Patricia Neal, getting her to recall the movie and Cooper from half a century's distance--McElwee's doodling bewitches. While the film's uneven, McElwee makes inspired comedy, even when the subject turns to inane film theorists, or little girl tobacco princesses, or even cancer. And when he talks about how this movie, which reflects on his late father and those who came before, is an act of witness for his son (seen at a couple of different ages, including teching on the project)? I am struck by the simple beauty of his quests.

"Bright Leaves" opens Friday at the Music Box. McElwee will appear at the Friday screenings.

(2004-11-30)

Also by Ray Pride

Home alone
A likeable, low-key family comedy, written by Chris Columbus from John Grisham's best-selling wafer, "Skipping Christmas," stars Tim Allen and Jamie Leigh Curtis as a suburban Chicago couple
(2004-11-22)

DVD Tips
Among Asian directors, Japanese Takeshi Kitano, maker of the great gangster artpics "Fireworks" (Hani-be) (1997) and "Sonatine" (1993), is a singular talent
(2004-11-22)

The gift of reality
The shortlist of a dozen movies from which this year's five Best Documentary nominees will be selected was announced this week
(2004-11-22)

Tip of the Week
Author, documentarian and Time movie critic Richard Schickel has done a journeyman job of supervising a longer version, working from Sam Fuller's notes
(2004-11-17)

The human face
(2004-11-10)

Tip of the Week
(2004-11-09)

Tip of the Week
(2004-11-03)

Designs of the times
(2004-11-03)

Short takes
(2004-11-03)

Tip of the Week
(2004-10-27)

American blues
(2004-10-27)

Pinot envy
(2004-10-27)

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