Old Joy (2006) Movie Information:

Old Joy (2006) Directed by: Kelly Reichardt Old Joy (2006) Written by: Kelly Reichardt Old Joy (2006) Cast: Will Oldham, Daniel London

Old Joy (2006) U.S. Distributor: Kino International Old Joy (2006) U.K. Distributor: Soda Pictures

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Old Joy (2006) Synopsis:

"Old Joy" is the story of two old friends, Kurt (Will Oldham) and Mark (Daniel London), who reunite for a weekend camping trip in the Cascade mountain range east of Portland, Oregon. For Mark, the weekend outing offers a respite from the pressure of his imminent fatherhood; for Kurt, it is part of a long series of carefree adventures. As the hours progress and the landscape evolves, the twin seekers move through a range of subtle emotions, enacting a pilgrimage of mutual confusion, sudden insight, and spiritual battle. When they arrive at their final destination, a hot spring in an old growth forest, they must either confront the divergent paths they have taken, or somehow transcend their growing tensions.

Old Joy (2006) Movie Review:

Thoughtful and delicate, this understated drama gets under the skin as it examines the sense of dissatisfaction that pervades modern life. Essentially a two-man show, it quietly positions our feelings of aimlessness alongside the political mess around us.

In Portland, Oregon, Kurt (Oldham) calls his old friend Mark (London) and suggests a camping trip. Mark's wife (Smith) is heavily pregnant and only reluctantly lets him go. As they drive, hike, camp and visit isolated hot springs, they talk haltingly about their lives and their feelings. Eventually, they begin to open up, admitting that they miss the crazy days of their youth and the fact that their busy lives don't let them connect anymore.

As it progresses we begin to wonder if there will be a sense of narrative at all. In many ways it feels like a play with two guys talking about not much of anything and avoiding the real conversation they want to have. Most of their meandering dialog is unconnected and superficial; the meaty discussion is on the radio, where analysts are grappling with chaotic global politics. Of course, Mark and Kurt switch that off.

The performances are so laid back that we aren't surprised when one or the other drops off to sleep mid-sentence. These are recognisable men trying to reconnect with each other and with the world. Oldham and Smith deliver their dialog in naturally, talking about families, work, hobbies, nothing very interesting. They even bore each other. And yet in the subtext we can see the old spark of friendship. It's remarkable acting from the inside out.

Director-cowriter Reichardt's mellow tone is both beautiful and a little exhausting. She's looking at disaffection and alienation--sorrow that's actually "worn-out joy". The film is full of images of normal America--not Hollywood's picture of it--shot in long, languorous takes that cleverly frame people against nature. These men have reached adulthood, but the world is still a mess, and life is so serious that having fun together seems like a waste of time. Even if the film is almost too quiet for words, it still carries a strong punch.

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Old Joy (2006) review written by: Rich Cline