As that renowned philosopher Roseanne Roseannadanna used to tell Jane Curtin on "Saturday Night Live": "Well Jane, it's always something". No truer words were ever spoken. If it's not discrimination or rejection or hate crimes, it's some awful illness. And whatever it is, that something gives us permission to drown our sorrow in our beer, or our soup, or our birthday cake.
And so, self-loathing Thaddeus (Richard Chamberlain) exudes resentment and bitterness in a charming sort of way, as he calls on his old friend Allen (Michael Imperioli) to help him fulfill one last dream, before he dies. Allen resists, and tons of dialogue ensues.
Because much of the plot takes place indoors, and because the script is so talky, the story might have had more success as a Broadway play, where melancholy melodrama can be more appreciated. Most the film's characters, not just Thaddeus, have reached the end of the line, with little or no hope for the future, and with no dreams left to pursue. The story is an orgy of sentimental pathos.
But at least the film gives us some insight into the artistic temperament. Richard Chamberlain's performance is entertaining, if perhaps a tad hammy. The film's score varies from jazzy to mournful. Production design is modest. Color cinematography is conventional.
With its explicit references to Buddhism, and its cynical and fatalistic themes, the film will be too alien and bleak for most viewers. But as art-house story material, the film has thematic depth in human tragedy. As such, "A River Made To Drown In", while not nearly as good, reminds me a lot of one of its better predecessors, the landmark movie: "The Boys In The Band" (1970).
