A Slipping-Down Life (1999)

A Slipping-Down Life (1999). 1h 49m | R

“Sort of warmed-over grits — containing every trite character and expression that inhabits u0026quot;Southernu0026quot; storytelling down through Ou0026#39;Connor, Welty, Flagg, etc. None of the parts is more than one stereotype after another.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTherefore, the viewer is compelled to observe by contrast any small feature that redeems the larger picture. In this instance there is one that stands out: the versatility of actor Guy Pearce playing a weak, indecisive, and mushy musician whose impact lies solely in how he how he takes on an impossible role and somehow brings it to life.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHow this Australian actor can master such a wide variety of theatrical work is something of a mystery to me. Lacking the u0026quot;staru0026quot; quality of such countrymen as Crowe and Gibson, he nevertheless steals every scene of every picture I have seen in which he appears, from u0026quot;Priscillau0026quot; to u0026quot;L.A. Confidentialu0026quot; to u0026quot;Memento.u0026quot; Very impressive indeed. Worth watching this otherwise drab film.”