WARNING: This review has spoilers
To be honest, I didn't really expect much when I popped `Inside Out' into my VCR. I am not usually one that watches a drama, as I find most of Hollywood's drama movies to be boring, contrived, and badly written (like `Stepmom,' for example). It also starred Elliott Gould at a time when his popularity was quickly dwindling down to nothing. But I was really stunned by this. Throughout the whole movie, I knew I was watching an underrated gem, done with a beautiful style despite a limited budget and few sets.
I have never heard of any other movie (though one may exist) that deals with agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces. Writer/director Robert Taicher and Gould really handled the issue well. Instead of forcing the phobia on us bluntly, they ease into it, not coming out and telling you what Gould's situation is, but showing it to you through his actions. It was a nice change for a movie not to treat me like an idiot and just let me listen and learn for myself. How often does that happen anymore? But what really clicked for me was the method in which Taicher flowed the picture. The movie chronicles a couple of weeks in the life of Jimmy Morgan (Gould), focusing on various relationships he has with people, both ones that visit him in his New York apartment and ones he contacts on the telephone. In another movie, these relationships would feel like obscure subplots, but here they are a cohesive whole, all tied in to Jimmy and his phobia. Jimmy is co-owner of an investment business that has made him a good sum of money, both before and after he shut himself in his apartment and let his partner Leo (Dana Elcar) handle the business. But lately the business has been doing poorly, and it is possibly that Leo is not being completely honest with Jimmy. That isn't good financially for Jimmy, whose gambling problem, combined with some of his expensive habits, are draining his bank account rapidly. Jimmy also has to pay alimony, and his phobia limits his time spent with his eleven year-old daughter Heather. He soon is informed that his ex-wife is thinking about taking Heather and moving to Chicago. To top it all off, one of Jimmy's old friends, Jack (Howard Hesseman), is visiting New York City and wants to spend some time out with his old pal. At one point Jimmy tells Jack the reason why he won't venture out, but its just a disguise for the root of the problem, which Jimmy finds out for himself in the end.
I loved much of this movie. The scenes with Gould and Hesseman were really good. Hesseman delivers Jack with warm humor like old friends would express, yet he plays the character with seriousness. Also wonderful was Beah Richards as Jimmy's housekeeper Verna. Her dialogue is sharp, particularly in an opening scene with Meshach Taylor, who was so enjoyable that it was a shame he only made one appearance. Jennifer Tilly is also in the movie as a call girl that frequently is requested to visit Jimmy. Her scenes weren't my favorites because they didn't completely fit in with the rest of them, but they are acted out very well. Elcar's screen time is brief, but I really liked his speech to Gould late in the movie. And then there are the scenes were Gould is alone. Again I stress how well this movie emphasized showing over telling. Gould's fascination with a homeless man is quite captivating, particularly when the pieces come together in the end. This all isn't to say the film is perfect, though. Some of the transitions from scene to scene feel abrupt, and all they needed was a shot a visitor in one scene leaving before moving on to the next. **MAJOR SPOILER ALERT** The other thing I didn't like was in the end. The end was great, but since Jimmy was broke, how can things work out for him? I know his loss of possessions is the whole point, but still, one must be realistic! **END OF MAJOR SPOILER**
From what I could find, `Inside Out' had a limited and unsuccessful release, and it was hardly seen by anyone even after it came out to video. Taicher himself has written and directed nothing else. This is a shame. We owe it to Taicher and this fine cast to watch `Inside Out.' Not only does it provide insight on an uncommon phobia, but it is also a fine piece of film-making to experience. 8 out of 10.
To be honest, I didn't really expect much when I popped `Inside Out' into my VCR. I am not usually one that watches a drama, as I find most of Hollywood's drama movies to be boring, contrived, and badly written (like `Stepmom,' for example). It also starred Elliott Gould at a time when his popularity was quickly dwindling down to nothing. But I was really stunned by this. Throughout the whole movie, I knew I was watching an underrated gem, done with a beautiful style despite a limited budget and few sets.
I have never heard of any other movie (though one may exist) that deals with agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces. Writer/director Robert Taicher and Gould really handled the issue well. Instead of forcing the phobia on us bluntly, they ease into it, not coming out and telling you what Gould's situation is, but showing it to you through his actions. It was a nice change for a movie not to treat me like an idiot and just let me listen and learn for myself. How often does that happen anymore? But what really clicked for me was the method in which Taicher flowed the picture. The movie chronicles a couple of weeks in the life of Jimmy Morgan (Gould), focusing on various relationships he has with people, both ones that visit him in his New York apartment and ones he contacts on the telephone. In another movie, these relationships would feel like obscure subplots, but here they are a cohesive whole, all tied in to Jimmy and his phobia. Jimmy is co-owner of an investment business that has made him a good sum of money, both before and after he shut himself in his apartment and let his partner Leo (Dana Elcar) handle the business. But lately the business has been doing poorly, and it is possibly that Leo is not being completely honest with Jimmy. That isn't good financially for Jimmy, whose gambling problem, combined with some of his expensive habits, are draining his bank account rapidly. Jimmy also has to pay alimony, and his phobia limits his time spent with his eleven year-old daughter Heather. He soon is informed that his ex-wife is thinking about taking Heather and moving to Chicago. To top it all off, one of Jimmy's old friends, Jack (Howard Hesseman), is visiting New York City and wants to spend some time out with his old pal. At one point Jimmy tells Jack the reason why he won't venture out, but its just a disguise for the root of the problem, which Jimmy finds out for himself in the end.
I loved much of this movie. The scenes with Gould and Hesseman were really good. Hesseman delivers Jack with warm humor like old friends would express, yet he plays the character with seriousness. Also wonderful was Beah Richards as Jimmy's housekeeper Verna. Her dialogue is sharp, particularly in an opening scene with Meshach Taylor, who was so enjoyable that it was a shame he only made one appearance. Jennifer Tilly is also in the movie as a call girl that frequently is requested to visit Jimmy. Her scenes weren't my favorites because they didn't completely fit in with the rest of them, but they are acted out very well. Elcar's screen time is brief, but I really liked his speech to Gould late in the movie. And then there are the scenes were Gould is alone. Again I stress how well this movie emphasized showing over telling. Gould's fascination with a homeless man is quite captivating, particularly when the pieces come together in the end. This all isn't to say the film is perfect, though. Some of the transitions from scene to scene feel abrupt, and all they needed was a shot a visitor in one scene leaving before moving on to the next. **MAJOR SPOILER ALERT** The other thing I didn't like was in the end. The end was great, but since Jimmy was broke, how can things work out for him? I know his loss of possessions is the whole point, but still, one must be realistic! **END OF MAJOR SPOILER**
From what I could find, `Inside Out' had a limited and unsuccessful release, and it was hardly seen by anyone even after it came out to video. Taicher himself has written and directed nothing else. This is a shame. We owe it to Taicher and this fine cast to watch `Inside Out.' Not only does it provide insight on an uncommon phobia, but it is also a fine piece of film-making to experience. 8 out of 10.