I'D RATHER BE...GONE
PLOT-Each facing a different personal crisis, three women decide to take a 'vacation' staying in a friend's huge near-empty house.
VIOLENCE-None.
SEX/NUDITY-A brief, clothed girl/girl scene played for laughs.
WHY I WATCHED IT-Years ago I wrote a rave review for the film PEP SQUAD, mostly a reaction to the standout performance of actor Amy Kelly. I became an instant fan, and I'll watch anything she's in from now on.
THE DOPE-It took three separate viewings of I'D RATHER BE GONE for me to fully understand why I love it so much, and now I will attempt to put my feelings into words (not my stong suit when it comes to things like this). It centers around three characters, all interesting, well-written and most definitely well-acted, and each time I watched the film I found myself focusing in on a different one. There's so much going on in both the performances and the story, not in a confusing, complex way but in the way that makes you wanna really dig into the nuts and bolts of how they are constructed and presented. How each makes a distinct impression on the viewer.
First there's Michelle (played by Maria Breaux, who also wrote and directed), a computer programmer who stares blankly at the monitor, growing more and more jaded and disgusted by the moment. Combine that with having recently endured a painful end to a relationship (she was cheated on), it's no wonder Michelle begins a quest to come up with something, any new idea that's going to cause some real change and benefit humanity. She is granted a vacation from her job, but oddly enough goes right to the computer when she gets home, eager to get started on her quest. Michelle is the main focus of the film, being the character most of us will be able to identify with. She's intelligent and compassionate, definitely a worthwhile person, but she's been dealt a shitty hand lately, and it shows in her face, in the way she breathes, the way she expresses herself. You feel for her, you know what that pain is like, and you hope something great will happen to her.
In walks Rocky (Csilla Horvath, whose performance is as perfect as you can get), Michelle's old friend in need of a place to stay. Rocky has ratty-looking hair, spots on her face, and the eyes of someone who's not quite on our planet. We know she's had a history of substance abuse, and has lived on the streets, and she definitely looks it. When Michelle tells Rocky to take a shower, you wanna breathe a sigh of relief, Horvath's portrayal is so dead-on that you can almost smell Rocky through the TV screen. Refreshingly enough, Rocky isn't anywhere near what you'd expect to see from such a character. Instead of being the sympathetic fuck-up, Rocky provides much of the film's comic relief, and is filled with tons of bizarre insight. Her comments are all at once hysterical, intelligent, and shocking. She's gross but she has soul and wit, a very original and poetic character.
Last but not least, we have Amy Kelly as "April", a third-grade teacher who leads a self-imposed double life because she's scared to 'come out', even though she lives with her girlfriend. Everyone seems to know April is a lesbian, and none of them seem to care except April. The issue dealt with here is quite serious, as April's fears of losing her job and her family are very common. I identified with her girlfriend Patty a hell of a lot, because she tries to empower April to do what's right, yet because the fear is so strong (and April is volatile to say the least), it's a lot to have to deal with even when you love someone. Patty's words make so much sense, but April's got a thick wall built up that seems nearly impossible to break.
One thing leads to another, and these three end up together in an apartment, wondering what they should do. They decide to stay with an acquaintance who just happens to be a model, and owns a beautiful home that she's glad to share. The alone time allows each person to stew on things and try to figure out what's the next step, meanwhile dealing with one another as events unfold.
The characters of Michelle, Rocky and April are so multi-layered and interesting that a separate film could easily have been made about each. However, I'D RATHER BE GONE gains its strength from having them all in the same story, sharing the same space and providing lots and lots for audiences to chew on. Every time I watch it, I'm disappointed when the credits roll, because I hate having to part with these people I've gotten to know so well and followed through this experience. That's a testament to just how well made this movie is.
MEMORABLE SCENES-Anytime Amy Kelly is on the screen is a memorable moment, because she is a complete and total fireball! Had she not been so dynamic and energized, one could say that Kelly made the character of April very uneven, unrealistic and inappropriately weird. One minute she's teaching kids and behaving very motherly, and the next she's visiting her secret Gwenyth Paltrow shrine and humping a light pole. However, Kelly's performance is totally infectious and even breathtaking at times. A lot of dramatic scenes are required of the role, which Kelly handles with the skill of the best A-list actor, but she brings something entirely unique and over-the-top to the scenes where April slowly comes unhinged. Put simply, Amy Kelly is one of the single greatest actors I have ever seen, certainly unlike anyone else out there, and her work is the of the unforgettable variety.
NOTES-Visit Ragamuff Productions to read more about this movie and Amy Kelly's Site.
(June 2004)