DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT

Director
Gus Van Sant
(MILK, ELEPHANT, MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO)

Stars
Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill and Rooney Mara

Originally, Gus Van Sant planned to make this comedic drama that is based on the memoir by John Callahan in the 1990s with Robin Williams to star as John. There is no doubt that the late and great Williams would have been the perfect choice to play this troubled but talented character. Nevertheless, this is material that is right up the alley of its experienced star Joaquin Phoenix.

It’s the 1970s and John is an alcoholic is in his early twenties. During a night of hard drinking and partying, he makes a spontaneous decision to get inside a car that is being driven by an equally intoxicated random, Dexter (a minor role played by Jack Black), which has lifelong consequences. Dexter nods off at the wheel while doing about 100 miles per hour and crashes into a pole. When he awakes from his coma, John discovers he is paraplegic. His life as he knew it is over. As time passes and an even greater volume of alcohol consumption fills John’s empty days, he is given a chance at a second life via an Alcoholics Anonymous support group led by Donnie (Jonah Hill), a love interest, Annu (Joaquin’s real-life partner Rooney Mara), and his controversial and irreverent off-colour newspaper cartoon drawings.

DON'T WORRY, HE WON'T GET FAR ON FOOT — Joaquin Phoenix stars as John Callahan in DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT.

John might not get so far on foot, but there’s a darn good chance that John’s story will nestle itself a cosy little place in your heart.

Despite the fact we all know that John has only himself to blame for the foolish decision he made that has resulted in his current state, this movie succeeds at enabling viewers to still feel empathy for him. As you’d expect, he is angry and sorrowful. But don’t think for a moment that DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT is about to dwell in the past or mourn over the present. No, this movie has an agenda that is of much more value and meaning. This is not the tragic story of a man who made a terrible decision that ruined his life. Rather, it’s the true story of a man who learned he needed to make peace with past issues that led to his alcoholism (and that aforementioned fateful decision), and found a much-needed outlet for his emotions. A surprising outlet that became an integral part of his healing process where he discovered a talent that was arguably his true calling in life. The screenplay’s ambition and willingness to address addiction frankly, and to draw honest answers from the toughest of questions is admirable, to say the least.

Themes and story aside, DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT depicts a number of different timelines in John’s life shuffled all throughout the film. Thankfully, the editing and directing are not messily arranged so that the film remains relatively easy to piece together. Much like the artistic nature of John’s drawings, the tone of humour is a bit more of an acquired taste and therefore laughter and amusement is more selective. Having said that, a particular drawing that very controversially depicts an extremely well-known religious icon pictured with a popular acronym is one of the most hilarious things I’ve seen in any movie this year! I now want to purchase a t-shirt with this image! A tenderly rendered music score adds real intimacy to this story and also maintains some poignancy felt throughout. For me, the stand-out belongs to Jonah Hill’s performance. Looking quite a lot like a mainstream version of Jesus, it took me a while to recognise him. Though his terrific work here is bound to be overlooked by that of his co-star Joaquin Phoenix, I thought so highly of Hill’s acting, I’m betting it will earn him a Best Supporting Actor – Musical or Comedy nomination at the 2019 Golden Globes.

3 ½ stars

DON'T WORRY, HE WON'T GET FAR ON FOOT
Viewer Discretion
M (Mature themes, sex scenes, coarse language and nudity)