The Event

The interesting thing about The Event is that it stars the quintessentially Canadian Don McKellar as a lifelong New Yorker, an odd casting choice to say the least. But it works, mostly because McKellar gives a performance that’s far better than anything he’s done before (the guy can act). The “event” refers to a party being given by Matt (McKellar), who’s dying of AIDS, as he commemorates his own suicide. The film’s told mostly in flashback, as an Assistant District Attorney (Parker Posey) investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding Matt’s death (was it really a suicide or did someone help him?) We meet the various figures in Matt’s life, most notably his loyal mother (Olympia Dukakis) and former lover (Brent Carver), while the A.D.A. digs deeper into the facts. The Event likely marks Thom Fitzgerald’s most accessible work, especially when you consider a film like The Hanging Garden (calling that flick obtuse is putting it midly). Though there are a number of quirky plot interruptions that are more distracting than anything else (a sequence involving preperations for Matt’s party is the most glaring example of this), the movie works best during instances of dialogue between the characters. And while Posey tries awfully hard to come off as a tough-as-nails lawyer, she never quite pulls it off (not to mention the fact that her character arc feels incredibly forced). But the other actors fare much better, especially Dukakis. She takes a character that could’ve been a stereotypical Jewish mother and turns her into someone that’s far more intriguing. It’s because of Dukakis’ sturdy performance that certain cloying moments never come off quite as badly as one might expect – such as the sequence in which she bakes marijuana-laced cookies for Matt. On the whole, The Event is worth a look for the performances; the storyline doesn’t have much in the way of innovation to offer.

**1/2 out of ****