The Observer, September 26, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 5
Uncomfortable Towelhead provides opportunity for discussion
click to enlarge
Oscar-winning writer of American Beauty and creator of Six Feet Under and True Blood, Alan Ball has a gift for grounding darkly comedic situations in reality. His new movie, Towelhead, makes American Beauty seem like a Saturday morning cartoon. Based on Alicia Erian's novel Towelhead, the film mainly concerns the sexual exploration and development of a young Arab-American growing up in suburban Texas. After disobeying her mother, the young girl Jasira (played by Summer Bishil) is sent to her strict Lebanese father (Peter Macdissi), who desires to raise her under his own strict view of the world. Jasira has a hard time living under her father's expectations, is bombarded by racist comments by classmates, and becomes sexually obsessed with a conveniently placed army reservist neighbor, awkwardly and uncomfortably played by Aaron Eckhart. After watching this movie, I'll never be able to look at Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight) the same way again. The character of Two-Face has a whole new meaning.
The movie ran at a brisk pace for approximately two hours. I enjoyed the movie, as much as one could enjoy a movie with racists and child abusers. The acting was extraordinary, that's for certain. Many lines from Jasira's Lebanese father drew laughter from the audience. The movie certainly fell into black comedy territory at times, possibly to ease up tension from the uncomfortable subject matter. What is this uncomfortable material I keep mentioning, exactly? I refuse to spoil the movie, but there are a few scenes of dramatic action and dialogue that made me squirm. Replace the use of weapons in the powerful ending of American Beauty with more dialogue, and you can kind of see the picture.
Unfortunately, the movie ran at too brisk of a pace. I can't even comment on how well the movie was filmed, because frankly, I can't remember any specific techniques being used. I'm sure there's some symbolism in placing all the main characters in the same cul-de-sac, a setting used for most of it, but I didn't figure that out while watching the movie. It's easier, in retrospect, to decipher some of the hidden meanings of particular scenes. I just wish that the movie would have given me a little more time to process its "messages" while watching it. Unlike American Beauty, I would not watch this movie again; it moved too fast to be really enjoyable.
I'm not really sure how to recommend this movie. If you are going to the cinemas to be entertained or with expectations after seeing American Beauty, don't see this movie. If you want to be challenged and aren't seeing the movie with too many friends, give it a try. It's certainly not a date movie (unlike Lakeview Terrace). This movie will definitely be good source material for hour-long dinner conversations, and I can guarantee it'll be used for social justice programming on campus next semester. That being said, Hollywood, please stop throwing war commentary into every Oscar-baiting film. It's getting tiring.
Towelhead premieres this Friday at Cedar Lee Theatre.
