Levity

Year: 2003

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Solomon

Review

if i had a dictionary (or internet access) i’d look up the definition of “levity,” but i don’t, so i can’t. i think that the first definition would say something about being lighthearted, like a joke or humorous conversation. but another definition might reference something about the lightness of being, as in levitation or floating upwards. this definition is probably more along the lines of the film’s intentions. it’s much more a film about levitating towards the heavens than it is about anything lighthearted or joke-related. billy bob sort of reprises his role in sling blade, only he’s less of a simpleton and the ending is different, though not in spirit. the overall theme is one of forgiveness and redemption and how that is manifested in, and sought out by, different people (thornton, freeman and dunst). dunst turns in a good performance as an upper crust spoiled floozy. her character’s sympathy level benefited from her family situation, but was good in spite of this easy ploy. solondz once said that it’s easy to make the audience feel some sympathy for an evil character – you just give them cancer. his point is that getting sympathy for a character is easy, doing it in a crafty manner is more difficult, especially when you strive for realism as well as sympathy. all babbling aside, it’s a well-done film that’s worth checking out.