“Local Color” Movie Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe
“Local Color touched my heart!” is a quote heard often from audiences in Scottsdale’s previewing of this beautiful movie in limited release at the Harkins Camelview 5 this weekend.
Director/Writer George Gallo says the film is autobiographical and a personal passion project that he had to do even when the big financial backers dropped out and he had to mortgage his home to get it done.
Gallo knows how make a film with plenty of successful films in his resume including “Wise Guys” and “Midnight Run”. His recent projects include the soon to be released “My Mom’s New Boyfriend” with Meg Ryan and Antonio Banderas.
“Local Color” is the story of a young painter John Talia, Jr. (Trevor Morgan) finding a mentor in an elderly Russian master Nicholi Seroff (Armin Mueller-Stahl) living in his New York town in 1974. Frame Shop owner Yammi (Charles Durning) helps instigate an introduction with the vodka guzzling artist who has blocked out the world. Against the wishes of his overbearing homophobic father, John Talia, Sr. (Ray Liotta), John runs off for a summer in the country to learn the artist’s techniques, but the cantankerous alcoholic artist ends up teaching him more about life than painting. The imagery is a feast for the soul with beautiful landscapes and vibrant paintings.
Nicholi Seroff's wisdom and concern about the direction of art in the world is discussed in long dinner conversations with art critic Curtis Sunday (Ron Perlman) and his wife Sandra (Julie Lott), where Seroff’s colorful dialogue is punctuated with an abundance of profanity, true to the personality of the artist. The use of the “F” word earned the film an “R” rating, even though there is absolutely no violence, sex or nudity. Gallo said he couldn’t whitewash his character’s language anymore than he did without losing the essence of the man.
Carla (Samantha Mathis) is a beautiful young woman and neighbor friend of Seroff’s who awakens passion in young John. Knowing Seroff is jealous of the attention, John engages her in the purest of big screen romances and earns the scorn of his mentor at the end of the summer. Still they end up each learning from the other and all the better for the passion ignited. John sees the world through the eyes of the master, and the master sees the world through the eyes of innocence once again.
Gallo spoke to the audience after a local screening and told how important it was he make this film, and make it his way, because it’s the story of his own youth and the mentor who guided him in his dreams. Working without major studio support, taking out loans against his home, as well as several producers doing the same, he managed to create a poignantly moving portrait of a glimpse of a moment in his life that many of us experience when inspiration takes hold and sets the course of your life. Gallo shot the entire film in only 18 days, in what he called keystone cops shooting technique, setting up and tearing down lights and cameras so fast as to be ridiculous. But he got it done and the end product defies you to find where he cut corners. The top notch cast and beautiful score, by Academy Award nominated composer Chris Boardman, accent this masterpiece of film making.
As a young man, Gallo attended college as a Graphic Arts major. After seeing Martin Scorsese's film “Mean Streets”, he was inspired to become a Film major instead. When the school informed him that he couldn't switch majors without repeating his first year's studies, he decided to drop out and ended up writing his first film, “Wise Guys”.
Gallo was quoted as saying, "Eventually, I came to understand that all of the arts are intertwined. That composition in painting is the same as structure in storytelling; that characters are the same as colors; that colors are the same as chords in music."
Armin Mueller-Stahl came out of retirement for his portrayal of Nicholi Seroff. He received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “Shine” (1996) and more recently had appeared in four episode of The West Wing. Much has been made of Seroff’s use of profanity in “Local Color” but Mueller-Stahl made it a natural part of the foul mouthed artist’s personality, to the extent it was no longer profane, but simply the way he spoke. We’ve all known people cut from this cloth, especially old men who have been through much horror and have limited ability to express themselves and their frustration through language. They generally ask to be excused when speaking in the presence of ladies, but Seroff’s frustration with life has reduced his attention social niceties to nil. Gallo was brilliant to cast Mueller-Stahl in this role. The accent, the facial expressions, the body language, all spoke of this old man’s frustration with life. And Mueller-Stahl is a painter. Bravo for a wonderful job in painting this character.
Trevor Morgan wasn’t the first choice for the role of John Talia, Jr. Gallo’s wife Julie Lott explained how their first choice had a conflict and Trevor Morgan fell into his place. It was the best thing to happen because he was perfect. With years of acting experience since the age of six, the 21-year old actor was especially good in expressing fear when his homophobic father’s predictions haunted him as the old man opens his bedroom door to check in. Morgan was an excellent choice. The big movie studios wanted a sex scene added to the romance but Gallo insisted in real life it had only been a kiss and that was what he wanted in the story. Morgan made that kiss express more than any sex scene.
Ray Liotta as John Talia, Sr. provided the humor and quirkiness we all see in our own families. He’s a loving father and husband trying to hold on to a son ready to fly the nest. Liotta brings his usual professionalism to the role and gives us the chance to hate him and love him. It didn’t hurt that he was a family friend who actually knew Gallo’s father.
Samantha Mathis as Carla took the character right where she belonged, as the fuel to the fire that ignited between Nicoli and John. Mathis has acted since the age of three, (daughter of actress Bibi Besch). Mathis was quoted, “During the kissing scene it started to rain, which was perfect. And during the raining scene we were using hoses to simulate rain - and it started raining for real. It was as if God was saying, "Make this film." I loved the experience of working on the film and all the collaboration and encouragement. Gallo was open to suggestions and that sort of enthusiasm makes everyone want to work for him.”
The film won a Director's Choice Award at the Sedona Film Festival. That’s where the connection to Harkin’s came into play. “It's a true story,” Dan Harkins says. “We ran to each other in slow motion. We made a film deal in front of a full theater. My children loved the film and wanted to see it again.” The limited release at Harkins has been a big success.
A week after production wrapped, most of the locations used in the film were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Idealism created an impressive piece of work with its heart in the right place. It will touch your heart, mind and soul with a shared experience of anyone with a passion.
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Author: LeeAnn Sharpe is freelance writer/photographer in Glendale Arizona and can be reached at www.leeannsharpe.com or lasharpe@cox.net.
