LAFF ‘09 Review: Passenger Side
Passenger Side – Canada 2009
Written and directed by Matthew Bissonnette. Starring Adam Scott, Joel Bissonnette and Robin Tunney.
Narrative Competition – World Premiere
Matthew Bissonnette’s third feature after Looking for Leonard and Who Loves the Sun is a comedy drama starring his brother Joel Bissonette (familiar from many TV appearances and parts in films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Zodiac) and Adam Scott (Step Brothers) as two brothers: Tobey the recovering drug addict and Michael the writer who forgoes his birthday plans to drive his brother around Los Angeles running a series of increasingly strange errands.
It plays out a bit like a mystery as first we wonder what Tobey is up to and then whether or not he’ll succeed in his mission. It’s a funny, episodic, oddly localized road movie about two siblings confronting their long history within the confines of a rickety old BMW.
The humor at times has a scripted quality – people say things they’d only ever say in a screenplay – and the jokes occasionally trump genuine human emotion at times giving Passenger Side an unhealthy ironic distance. Nevertheless, both Scott and Bissonnette have a knack for the deadpan patter and the film is funny more often than not. Scott’s offhand reactions to the increasingly bizarre set of circumstances he finds himself on are priceless.
Best of all though, as the story travels from Echo Park, to Hollywood to Glendale and points beyond LA County, it captures a dusty, run down and washed out side of Los Angeles instantly recognizable to anyone who has moved here with a more glamorous ideal in mind. Though the two lead characters take some time to become real, the city of Los Angeles constantly looms in the background as a silent character itself.
Bissonette also makes use of an eclectic soundtrack including songs from Camper Van Beethoven, Leonard Cohen, Wilco and Superchunk. It adds to the building tone of melancholy as the story progresses and slowly drops its protective façade of irony. In the end, the two brother’s natures are slowly revealed in surprising ways and the story takes on a genuine poignancy that remains subtle without becoming maudlin.
The balance between humor and emotion is imperfect here, but it works. Passenger Side is an enjoyable ride through Los Angeles that presents a picture of the city only an outsider can deliver. In a city full of people from somewhere else, this is oddly appropriate.
Filed under: Film Festivals, Reviews
Tags: Adam Scott, Joel Bissonnette, LAFF, Los Angeles Film Festival, Matthew Bissonnette, Robin Tunney
Like the idea of a road trip round LA film. Good it made you laugh…your taste in comedy is usually pretty good.
Nicely written, too, ’specially on the fly at a festival. Don’t kmow how you “pros” do that.
Sounds like you made two good choices as to what to see in this festival so far. Another lovely write-up. I look forward to hearing more about the festival. :)
“Bissonette also makes use of an eclectic soundtrack including songs from Camper Van Beethoven, Leonard Cohen, Wilco and Superchunk.”
Well there’s one element that sounds most appealing. Good to hear the festival is getting off to a strong beginning.
this is a must see film of the fest! i loved it (and might be in love with adam scott).
Glad you enjoyed it Jody, and thanks for stopping by. I had a chance yesterday to talk to Joel and his brother Matthew, but your boy Adam unfortunately wasn’t in town. Hopefully the audio came out ok. Stay tuned for the interview.
Of the Narrative competition films I’ve seen, this is probably my favorite so far.
Brenda and i were hooked by the trailer for this one. Glad to hear you liked it. I’ll be looking out for it.