The SXSW Film Festival has started off strongly with a feature by actual Austinites called A More Perfect Union. This comedy is about four post-collegiate men who decide to found their own country in their house. A small group seceding from the U.S. has been done before in the movies but it's always been very cutesy. Here it's the answer to their question of what to do when everyone else is doing nothing. They don't want to be mistaken for slackers, their recoiling in disgust taken for apathy. There's no question that recoiling done here leads to rebellion.
The four begin as three, three men who've been friends since high school and went through college together. They're looking for a fourth revolutionary to help with the cause and the rent. After a funny but failed interviewing process, they come across an aggressive ex-child star, A.K., who fits the bill perfectly. A.K. is not as high-minded as the rest of them and becomes the catalyst for them to take real action.
Stu is the Thomas Paine of these founding fathers, uncompromising in his dedication to their country to the point of absurdity; he won't leave the house, their newcountry, preferring to stay in and work on his Plans and enjoy his rich internal life. Browning is conciliatory, a helpful trait in his job as a court clerk, but is firm when it comes to the principles on which their nation is based. Stephan is not as awkward as his parents say but he's often not at ease. The others don't help by repeating tales of humiliation from his high school days.
Of course these men are not just in pursuit of life and liberty, happiness is on their minds and forming a new country is a great reason for a party as well as on original pick-up line. Happiness also come from revenge for them so declaring war on their show-tune singing neighbor is a top priority. The fact that the neighbor doesn't realize the significance of this act is of little concern to the group.
One of the drawbacks of remaining friends with people long after having been in high school together is that the painful memories of that time aren't left in the past. High school and specifically their gym teacher, still haunts the nonathletic threesome and motivates much of their activity in the movie. A.K. is only too willing to lend a hand because, "there's only one gym teacher." In the school, Browning has a triumphant moment when, in an attempt to purge himself of its spectre, he runs down the halls and cries, "ignore your teachers!" into the classrooms. Everything in the school is smaller than they remember including their gym teacher but the wheels of justice are already in motion. By the end of the movie their revenge also gets them the recognition a new nation deserves but also leaves it's future in doubt. Each audience member must decide for himself whether the (unnamed) Republic can survive.
Before the movie, Louis Black said that the Sheinkin brothers deserve to "make it" just because it's so great to say "Sheinkin brothers." Of course he said that wasn't the only reason and he's right. The writing for this film is excellent. Their dialogue is very natural except for their tendency to speak in the paraphrased speeches of the original American revolutionaries but in the context of the film that too seems natural. The humor of the film is not all in the dialogue either. The shots of Browning, Stu, and A.K. on the couch looking at Stephan's parents are hilarious and completely on the mark. The writing and editing come together for a pick-up game of basketball in the park (without Stu of course) which has the essence of every pick-up game ever played by casual athletes. While the film certainly wouldn't be mistaken for a polished Hollywood production the only flaw of any significance is the sound. Too often in the house there is a "hollow room" effect which regrettably makes the dialogue difficult to hear. I'm sure that the talent put into this picture will be recognized and there will be money to ensure every syllable can be heard in their next picture.
3/11/95