'Garbo Talks' would be considered by virtually no one as one of director Sidney Lumet's greatest films. One could easily think of a dozen more acclaimed and memorable. But in its own way its a great tribute to his skills as a director.
The film is a fairly slight affair about a worn-down office man who tries to realise her eccentric mother's (Anne Bancroft) dying wish of meeting Greta Garbo. The script is decent enough but nothing special and when it tries to be funny, it's only mildly successful. Lumet was never known for his comedy skills and the reason why is on display with his flat handling of the humour scenes.
But what could've been a pleasant but totally forgettable movie is made memorable and moving by Lumet's deft handling of the emotional and more serious scenes.
For big scenes like when the mother finally meets Garbo, Lumet plays it out in one long take without relying on emotional music and has the confidence in the event itself to make an impact, which it does. We see the mother talk to Garbo about her life experiences - both good and bad - and we see how much it means that this has occurred.
Thanks to Lumet's tasteful handling, a scene that could've gone wrong works beautifully. As does the choice not to show her moment of death, instead having the son pack up in the hospital room signifying her passing.
The film also works as a character study of the son; early on he is portrayed as a harried office worker in a dissatisfying relationship and has little time for his unconventional mother. But over the course of the film we see him grow as a person and genuinely appreciate his mother as she reaches her departure.
Also memorable is right at the end of the film when the son (Ron Silver) resigns from his office job. Instead of complaining towards his oppressive boss, he is genuinely thankful and doesn't blame him at all which the boss is appreciative of. Again Lumet's non-obtrusive handling helps make the scene work.
This is far from Lumet's best work, but it is a good demonstration of why he was such a great director.
The film is a fairly slight affair about a worn-down office man who tries to realise her eccentric mother's (Anne Bancroft) dying wish of meeting Greta Garbo. The script is decent enough but nothing special and when it tries to be funny, it's only mildly successful. Lumet was never known for his comedy skills and the reason why is on display with his flat handling of the humour scenes.
But what could've been a pleasant but totally forgettable movie is made memorable and moving by Lumet's deft handling of the emotional and more serious scenes.
For big scenes like when the mother finally meets Garbo, Lumet plays it out in one long take without relying on emotional music and has the confidence in the event itself to make an impact, which it does. We see the mother talk to Garbo about her life experiences - both good and bad - and we see how much it means that this has occurred.
Thanks to Lumet's tasteful handling, a scene that could've gone wrong works beautifully. As does the choice not to show her moment of death, instead having the son pack up in the hospital room signifying her passing.
The film also works as a character study of the son; early on he is portrayed as a harried office worker in a dissatisfying relationship and has little time for his unconventional mother. But over the course of the film we see him grow as a person and genuinely appreciate his mother as she reaches her departure.
Also memorable is right at the end of the film when the son (Ron Silver) resigns from his office job. Instead of complaining towards his oppressive boss, he is genuinely thankful and doesn't blame him at all which the boss is appreciative of. Again Lumet's non-obtrusive handling helps make the scene work.
This is far from Lumet's best work, but it is a good demonstration of why he was such a great director.