When Portland, Oregon-based cartoonist John Callahan died in 2010 at 59 years old, the New York Times obituary wasted no time in hitting on descriptions like "paraplegic" and "alcoholic." Yes, Callahan did find himself wheelchair-bound after a night of over-drinking led to a car accident—he wasn't even driving—but in Gus Van Sant's retelling of Callahan's life story, Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot (based on the book by Callahan), the moral winds up landing fairly far from cautionary drunk driving tale, instead asking us to question our own motivations, forgive when possible and, ultimately, to choose life.
Callahan is here portrayed by the venerable Joaquin Phoenix, one of contemporary film's most committed character actors, notable for throwing himself so deeply into roles it can get scary. As Callahan, Phoenix captures an eerie combination of charming and asshole, from the self-pitying early days of his paralysis to the barely restrained joy of becoming the regular cartoonist for Willamette Week (which is SFR's sister paper, by the way). It's no solo journey, however, and Jonah Hill's turn as Callahan's sponsor Donnie is surprisingly rich for the usually goofy actor. Perhaps he's growing as a performer?
Regardless, and despite the film's best efforts, Donnie's story is overshadowed by Callahan—which may seem obvious given the central premise, but when we discover Donnie died of AIDS, the news is delivered fleetingly; short shrift for a savior role, but again—this is Callahan's journey.
And it is triumphant, all things considered. We watch as he slowly regains relative use of his hands and develops his own illustrative style; we cheer as he builds a relationship with his one-time physical therapist Annu (Rooney Mara); we feel alongside Callahan as he searches for the mother who gave him up for adoption—we join in on the pride as his oftentimes controversial but darkly funny work picks up steam and makes its way to local papers, Penthouse and beyond.
But as we wonder whether we could survive paralysis (or would even want to), Don't Worry dips painfully close to boring on a number of occasions. It's certainly fun to see punk rock legends like Kim Gordon and Carrie Brownstein tackle minimal roles as a fellow alcoholic and a social worker, respectively, but outside of the silly little moment wherein you recognize them, we're talking characters who ultimately have very little to do with anything. Even Jack Black's appearance as the ill-fated driver in Callahan's accident feels almost unimportant, or at least like it could have been just anyone in the role.
Still, the film grows on you, leading the charge from a deep place of depression to something akin to redemption, or at least self-forgiveness. This is important, obviously, and not just within the confines of Van Sant's film, but as a general reminder to us all that we can aim for happiness and beauty in our lives, no matter the road that led us to where we are.
7
+Phoenix is stellar; joyful
-Occasionally slows to a slog
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
Directed by Van Sant
With Phoenix, Mara, Black, Gordon and Brownstein
Violet Crown, R, 114 min.
