Starting Out in the Evening Movie Review
By Jason Revill
I am about as far removed from the literary scene of New York as you can get, but even to me this seems to be a far truer representation of what that world is like than is depicted in most films. In most cases the characters seem to be completely off the rails or just generally wacky with unnecessary affectations. If Starting Out in the Evening isn’t the way things are, I’d prefer not know.
Aging writer Leonard Schiller (Frank Langella) has been working on his fifth novel for more than a decade. Forgotten by nearly everyone, he is sought out by a young grad student, Heather Wolfe (Lauren Ambrose). She is basing her graduate thesis on his work and hopes in doing so she can spur the completion of his final novel. Reluctantly he gives in to her friendship, much to the disapproval of Leonard’s daughter, Ariel (Lili Taylor), who is afraid that her own life is passing her by.
Frank Langella’s performance is simply magnificent and possibly the best of his career. He is absolutely perfect as an aging literary giant who is being forgotten along with his importance. Everything he does is subtle, and even though it is so thoughtful and internalized, you know exactly what’s going on. Even having watched all of Six Feet Under I never would have thought Lauren Ambrose could have pulled of the role she does here. Her Heather is both intelligent and brilliantly well spoke, but still has the immaturity and straight forwardness of youth. Rounding things out is the always solid, Lili Taylor. She’s great as Leonard’s daughter Ariel, who even though she loves her father, she isn’t quite comfortable with the possibility of him having a relationship.
This film captures a man who was formally great, but has hidden himself away long enough for the world to forget and begin to think he is irrelevant. He is a man from a different time whose tie is oddly out of place in a far more casual culture. Leonard loves literature and writing and is uncompromising even in the face of a literary critic who is willing to do just that to keep advertising revenue flowing to her magazine. He allows Heather into his life, but as much as he cares for her, she can’t completely be a part of it.
Andrew Wagner’s simple and warm direction coupled with a screenplay co-written Fred Parnes make for a criminally overlooked film. Based on Brian Morton’s novel, Starting Out in the Evening is small, sweet and beautiful in the best of ways. If you are a fan of literature or film I would suggest you seek this movie out. It’s is everything that is great about both.
