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The Only Living Boy In New York
 Hello Cinecast Listener,
From Chicago, this is The Dope Sheet...
Adam's Overlooked DVD Pick: Tadpole
This film almost cracked my list when we discussed our Top 5 New
York Movies a few weeks ago. Directed by Gary Winick, who is
currently in post-production on a star-studded animated version of
"Charlotte's Web," "Tadpole" marked the acting debut of Aaron
Stanford. X-Men fans will recognize Stanford as Pyro from X2 and the
upcoming X3. The disc,
which is available on Peerflix,
features an audio commentary by Winick.
Here is what I wrote about "Tadpole" when I saw it back in August
2002:
- - -
The story of a precocious 15-year-old prep student desperately in
love with his sexy stepmom (Sigourney Weaver), Tadpole owes a lot to
The Graduate. As Oscar Grubman, newcomer Aaron Stanford even looks a
bit like Dustin Hoffman, especially when he's being seduced by his
stepmom's 40-ish best friend, Diane (Bebe Neuwirth).
But part of what makes Tadpole such a charmer is the fact that
director Gary Winick and screenwriters Heather McGowan and Niels
Mueller are perfectly willing to pay their respects. When Oscar's
tryst with Diane is revealed over dinner with his dad and stepmom,
his dad (John Ritter) blurts out, "Well, it's all very 'The
Graduate.'"
During a montage late in the movie, where Oscar is shown in
various modes of reflection, the soundtrack blares a remake of "The
Only Living Boy In New York" -- originally written and performed by
the duo responsible for The Graduate's seminal soundtrack, Simon &
Garfunkel.
Of course, Tadpole's young protagonist exhibits none of Benjamin
Braddock's debilitating disillusionment. And why should he? He's
smart, passionate, speaks fluent French, and gets to come home on
Thanksgiving break to a version of Manhattan that's so idealized it
would make Woody Allen blush. Even with the slightly murky digital
picture -- Winick shot Tadpole in two weeks for around $500,000 --
the leaves are vibrant with color. Birds chirp sweetly over the quiet
din of traffic (in New York City!?).
There's no trash on the street or homeless people begging for
change, and the subway always looks squeaky clean and safe. It's a
romanticized rendition of Manhattan that seems lifted straight out of
just about any Allen film, but particularly Hannah and Her Sisters.
(Oscar spies the forbidden object of his affection at Thanksgiving
dinner just as Michael Caine's character in Hannah pines for his
wife's sister (Barbara Hershey) at their Thanksgiving gathering.)
This Manhattan may only exist in movies -- or, at the very least,
for the extremely affluent -- but I fell for it just as hard as Oscar
does for Eve. Beyond convincing Weaver, Neuwirth, and Ritter to take
parts in this low-budget winner, Winick's biggest coup was the
casting of Stanford, who, like his character, is mature for his age.
He never overplays the comedy, even at its most farcical. And while
he's just good-looking enough that an attractive older woman might
want to seduce him, his natural teenage awkwardness makes it easy for
us to believe he'd spend hours reading Voltaire in search of the
secrets to love and life.
- - -
Winick won the Best Dramatic Directing prize for "Tadpole" at the
2002 Sundance Film Festival. Here is how he listed his Top 5 'Teen'
Movies on the Sundance Channel site. (It's a great theme that I'm
sure Sam and I will steal at some point... though I'm not sure either
of us can improve on his list.)
THE OUTSIDERS, 1983
directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
For Coppola's sentimental, fable like approach to teenagers.
SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS, 1961
directed by: Elia Kazan
For Elia Kazan's sensitive look at unrequited love and the
innocence of Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty.
Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, 2001
directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
Alfonso Cuaron's treatment of a universal story.
RUSHMORE, 1998
directed by: Wes Anderson
Max Fisher's sense of humor with Wes Anderson's sensibility.
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, 1982
directed by: Amy Heckerling
A time and place that defines the High School experience.
Got a question or comment? Email it to
dopesheet@cinecastshow.com
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