Show Cult Classic Imaginary Heroes' Heroes Stacie Peart Movie Staff Writer While Dan Harris was busy helping Bryan Singer write screenplays for the second second second sec sec- ond X Men film and Superman Returns he also took a turn at writing and directing his own material Harris' Harris dark comedy Imaginary Heroes was released in 2004 and depicts the impact a tragedy has on the Travis family while dwelling in upper-middle upper class suburbia Harris beautifully captures the year following the suicide suicide suicide sui sui- sui- sui cide of the eldest son Matt Kip Pardue Rules of Attraction and Remember the Titans Matts Matt's brief appearance in film shows his amazing gift for swimming as well as his hatred of the sport Matt is expertly introduced introduced introduced intro- intro through the eyes of his younger brother Tim Emile Hirsch Lords of Dogtown and The Girl Next Door a quiet high schooler observant observant observant vant of the world around him The concept of a suicide in inthe inthe the family is not typically the basis basi's of However Harris' Harris stunning script and direction captures the aftermath aftermath aftermath after- after math of the suicide and how howall howall all the family members deal I with the death i Sigourney Weaver not 1 usually known for comedy I takes on the role of unconventional unconventional unconventional mother Sandy Tr Travis vis Weavers Weaver's interpretation tion of Sandys Sandy's reaction to I losing g son is genuine lin a as li he heij her character ch ct tees to o avoid dealing with the suicide by finding ways to numb her pain Comedy sets in when 1 her mode of denial involves I snagging marijuana from I Tims Tim's bathroom and smoking it in the backyard I While Weaver receives top j billing Hirsch's portrayal of Tim grabs immediate attention attention attention atten- atten 1 tion making him the second lead He creates mystery humor and an emotional connection connection con con- to the audience as his character Tim tries to deal with his family and friends Most of the scenes in the film center on Weaver and Hirsch's characters as they muddle through the year following following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing Matts Matt's death Weaver and Hirsch were able to lo create creale a realistic family family family fam fam- ily bond that is unmistakable This son mother-son relationship gives insight into the inner workings of the two main characters and their feelings on different situations in the film While Sandy is vocal and prone to lashing out if she feels the need Tim is ismore ismore ismore more introverted only revealing revealing revealing reveal reveal- ing his true irue thoughts when he takes on a bit of his mothers mother's personality and lashes out himself I i 1 I I 1 I I I j 1 Imaginary Heroes is a well cast film bringing in a great supporting cast including including including ing Michelle Williams as Penny Travis the daughter living away at college Penny becomes the voice of reason in a lot of scenes because of her sporadic appearances throughout the film She often says what the other characters are thinking Ryan Donowho The OC plays Tims Tim's childhood best friend and neighbor Kyle Dwyer and Deidre OConnell O'Connell sits in inas inas inas as Marge Dwyer Kyles Kyle's mother and nemesis arch-nemesis of Sandy Their feud creates creales j laughs as well as a bit bil of a r mystery that begins to lo el Jeff Daniels' Daniels character j Ben Travis brings a sense of a awkwardness to lo the film as t the father who cant can't deal with wilh j Matts Matt's death because he was j the person in the family Ben j. j had tried to form forma a relationship relationship relationship relation relation- s ship with His denial leads toan toan to toan a an uncomfortable dinner x with wilh the family as Ben demands a place at al the table fo for his dead a p portion o I the j immediately calls the entire ordeal creepy Bens Ben's odd behavior continues as he j haphazardly tries iries to lo reconnect reconnect recon- recon with wilh his living children and estranged wife Daniels' Daniels remarkable performance follows follows follows fol fol- fol- fol lows Ben as he continually misses the mark while trying to find a place in the hearts of his family Imaginary Heroes starts out strong bringing the characters characters characters char char- on an emotional roller- roller coaster and exquisitely reveals old family secrets that answer many of the questions asked throughout the film Imaginary Heroes is rated R. R |