Review: That Evening Sun

That Evening Sun

OPENING: Limited Release

STUDIO: Dogwood Ent.

RUN TIME: 110 min

ACCOMPLICES:
Trailer, Official Site

The Charge
I worked too hard. And too long. I ain’t going down without a fight.

Opening Statement
Director Scott Teems delivers is a powerful film with an Oscar worthy performance by Hal Holbrook. In fact, this could be the performance of Holbrook’s career.

Facts of the Case
Abner Meecham (Holbrook, Evening Shade) flees the nursing home and returns to his farm in Tennessee, only to find that his son has rented it to former enemy Lonzo Choat (Ray McKinnon, The Blind Side) and his family. Abner is determined to live in his house again, though Lonzo sees things differently. Now a burden to both his son and the tenants on his farm, Abner fights for the only thing he has left — his dignity.

The Evidence
First and foremost, it must be said that Hal Holbrook arguably gives his finest performance to date. This is saying a great deal for an 85 year old actor who appeared in such classics as All the President’s Men, Wall Street, and the delightfully chilling Creepshow. From the execution of dialogue to the subtle expressions on his wrinkled face, Holbrook gives a depth to Abner that few actors could have accomplished. He is a man struggling to find his value in society, a feeling many men of that age face. Does he have worth or is he simply a burden? In his seemingly unimportant life, this is a question Abner faces each day. Holbrook conveys Abner’s emotions naturally, without force or contrivance, and his timing is impeccable. It would seem this is a role Holbrook was meant to play, and the film is worth seeing simply for his performance.

As the film’s antagonist, Lonzo Choat, Ray McKinnon brings to life the epitome of a white trash neighbor, rubbing us wrong way even before we see his face. The way Lonzo drives up to the house in his noisy, rusted truck is enough to make us not like him. And because Lonzo is every bit as stubborn as Abner, every scene is boiling with conflict. McKinnon gives us a character we can’t help but hate. However, on some small level, I did feel pity for him. Lonzo is trash and he knows it. No matter how hard he wants to be something else, he is trapped, unable to overcome his own personality flaws.

This is a screenplay rich with symbolism and depth. Abner is fighting to keep his house, an externalization of his grander struggle for value in a world that has little use for the elderly. Lonzo’s fight is equally symbolic. By giving up the house, he would be admitting he is what people see him as — white trash. Neither character will give an inch to the other, as that would reflect on who they are.

Writer/Director Scott Teems gives us an exceptional feature-length directorial debut. He takes time with shots, exploring the nature of a man (Abner) simply trying to take in the life he has left. We see close-ups of everyday things in life, like flowers and hornets, from the viewpoint of a person who might not have much longer to see them. In an age where action films rarely take thirty seconds to breath, That Evening Sun is a welcome alternative. Ironically, the film was shot in a remarkable twenty-two days, something one would never suspect from such a leisurely film.

Closing Statement
With performances that are second to none, That Evening Sun is one of the better films I’ve seen this year. I highly recommend seeking out this indie gem.

The Verdict
9/10

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