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Review: PALINDROMES / Todd Solondz (2004)

July 27th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Palindromes (2004)
Written and Directed by Todd Solondz
Starring: Matthew Faber, Angela Pietropinto, Bill Buell, Ellen Barkin & Richard Masur
Running Time: 100 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

How can I dislike a film that features real life retardates given a chance to show off their acting skills, Christian-bashing, fat girls in belly shirts and a plate filled with homemade “Jesus’ tears” cookies? With Todd Solondz, it simply a matter of course.

The film opens with a memorial card for Dawn Weiner, the lead character in Welcome to the Dollhouse, Solondz’s ode to suburban teenage angst. Yearning to create an “inner-dialogue” for his minions, Solondz feels it necessary to establish Dawn’s death in order to squelch any parallels between her character and that of Aviva, the lead in Paliundromes. Here’s an idea - if you fear drawing similarities DON’T DEDICATE A FILM TO HER! In truth, the director begged actress Heather Matarazzo to reprise ‘Weinerdog,’ the role that put her on the map, but the actress wisely refused. She must have read the script.

There is nothing more frustrating than sitting through a comedy and not knowing when or where to laugh. If ever a film had a shot at sick-f–k masterwork it’s this one, but Solondz couldn’t resist ‘arting’ it up. Not through visuals, but alleged narrative complexity. For no good reason other than he liked the idea, at least a half-dozen actresses play the role of Aviva, a pregnant thirteen-year-old desperate to keep her baby. (One incantation named Huckleberry inexplicably makes two brief appearances mid-film and at the end.) Her sensible parents (Ellen Barkin and Richard Masur) insist on an abortion after which Aviva runs away from home. She winds up in the care of Mama Sunshine and her surrogate band of medical anomalies and curiosities.

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