TOUCH

1997 -- R -- 96 mins

Directed by Paul Schrader. Screenplay by Paul Schrader, from the novel by Elmore Leonard

Bridget Fonda:  Lynn Marie Faulkner
Skeet Ulrich:  Juvenal/Charlie Lawson
Christopher Walken:  Bill Hill
Tom Arnold:  August Murray
Gina Gershon:  Debra Lusanne
Lolita Davidovich:  Antoinette Baker
Paul Mazursky:  Artie
Janeane Garofalo:  Kathy Worthington
Anthony Zerbe:  Father Donahue
Conchata Farrell:  Virginia Worrel
Mason Adams:  Father Nestor
Breckin Meyer:  Greg Czarnicki

Also featuring  John Doe  *  O-Lan Jones  *  Richard Schiff  *  LL Cool J  *  Tamblyn Tomita  *  Don Novello  *  Brent Hinkley  *  Dennis Burkley  *  Chris Hogan

"I'm one big ear hole"

PLOT SYNOPSIS:

Slick ex-preacher turned RV dealer Bill Hill  pretty much stumbles onto a young man, known as Juvenal, who helps out and lives at a Catholic shelter. The reason for Hill's interest is that Juvenal seems to have the gift to heal the sick or handicapped by his mere touch, such as restoring the sight of a blind woman through stigmata. Hill calls on former colleague,  Lynn Marie Faulkner, to get to know Juvenal and direct to reveal his ability to the world. Hill sees dollar signs when he looks at Juvenal, but Lynn Marie falls in love with him and his gentleness. Juvenal starts to make an impact in the media, and his booked to appear on an edgy talk show hosted by muck racking  Debra Lusanne. In the meantime, August Murray, Juvenal's former friend, and leader of a ultra-right wing religious group called OUTRAGE, is disgusted by the exploitation of the miracle healer and is willing to go to extreme lengths to put an end to it.

JANEANES CHARACTER:

Although her character pops up four or five times throughout the movie, it's still a pretty minor role. Kathy Worthington is a newspaper journalist who is one of the first to jump on the stigmata band wagon. Considering how sleazy the media come across in this movie, the role of Kathy is rather sympathetic. She does point out the dangers of being turned into a side show attraction to Juvenal, and shows compassion towards he and his relationship with Lynn Marie.

**1/2

Paul Schrader is one of the most intense filmmakers in the business. As a writer for other filmmakers, he's out put has included the legendary Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Last Temptation Of Christ. As a director, he's made Blue Collar, AutoFocus and Affliction. This guy does pretty grim projects. Which is why Touch is so change of pace. As usual, Schrader does indeed have something to say, but Touch, more or less, is a comedy. Or rather a light social satire. It's commentary on media manipulation and the state of religion in the modern world aren't hard to find, but the movie avoids bashing you over the head. I know nothing of Elmore Leonard's novel, and have no idea how it compares to the big screen treatment, but Schrader's script never bites off more than it can chew. If anything, it doesn't really go far enough in some areas. It's brief running time and under development of a number of supporting characters lead one to thing that Schrader wanted to keep things very neat and trim. Although it's not really a damaging flaw, the movie does waver in tones. When Chris Walken and Tom Arnold are onscreen, the film is more of a broad comedy, with wacky facial expressions and character reactions. When it's the more intimate material between Skeet Ulrich and Bridget Fonda, the movie is going for a much sweeter, warmer vibe. 

Interesting then that the more broad performances of Walken and Arnold are actually the film's more effective. Walken has proven himself to have a great comic touch over the years, and he proves it here again. He does a great job of projecting the showmanship and slickness that you'd expect from someone who has experience of being both a preacher and car dealer! Arnold is one of the individuals who has gotten a bad rap for, well, being himself. But the guy can really act when he has the right stuff to work with. Although essentially a stereotypical fundamentalist tightass, Arnold puts a lot of energy and conviction into the part, as well as delivering the required laughs. Ulrich and Fonda have never exactly been thrilling actors, more here they come across okay. Of the supporting cast, Mazursky and Davidovich have some especially funny moments. 

VIDCAPS (scanned by me...Earl)

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