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John Nolan (Jeff Goldblum) sells life insurance. He is good at his job. He wears great suits and exudes a confident air when pitching to clients. One evening, while purchasing a bottle of wine from a deli/liquor store, his value system is shockingly awakened, changing his life forever. He decides to have the wine bottle he chose replaced because the label was scratched. He later views this request as a contributing factor to the death of a ex-con clerk fatally shot in the surprise, panicky hold-up that follows.
Writer/director Matthew Tabak has coordinated a simple puzzle of events to tell a wonderful story of reflection, compassion and readjustment. The pivotal impact on John's life is shown in gradual stages each reflecting his own concern and deepening curiosity for a deceased stranger. |
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Auggie Rose (a.k.a. "Beyond Suspicion") by Matthew Tabak Review of the film and 20th Century Fox DVD by Gary W. Tooze |
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Goldblum's performance is quite adept, fulfilling all the required elements of a successful businessman who is morally distraught and confused by societies lack of concern over the murder of an ex-con recently released from prison. With no relatives or friends to speak out for him, Auggie Rose's death will hardly be investigated and his body will have no funeral. John, seen as a do-er, will not allow this to pass unmarked, if only by his own conscience. |
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Unable to accept what he deems as a momentous event passing with only a shake of society's collective head, Nolan continues to pursue the details of Auggie's life regardless of the blasι attitude of the police, his friends or his live-in girlfriend. As John investigates, we too begin to get caught up in his life, perhaps more to see where this journey will take both John and ourselves. |
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There is enough directorial skill to admire director Tabak, but he is aware enough not to allow it to intrude on the simplicity of his story, not unlike the subtlety of the film's performances. John eventually uncovers an imminent meeting for Auggie in a bus terminal with a prison pen-pal, the pixie-like Anne Heche. Her inclusion in the story does not seem either appropriate or necessary, but she does help fill a few of the plot holes in Auggie's life that we were previously unaware of. It also actually forces John to seek out a employment as a deli-store clerk to keep up the pretense. NOTE: Her excitement and exuberance stops him from divulging the truth about Auggie and John begins to fill the void created by his death. |
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It becomes increasingly obvious as the story evolves that John is replacing Auggie and his everyday existence. In a poignant moment John resigns from his business and remarks to past clients what they should be doing when his advice is requested outside on the street. "You know what I think, I think you should go home and make love to your wife..." He continues to briefly expound on his new found ideological philosophy essentially condensing the entire film in a few short sentences. The greatness of his speech and also of the film is that it never attempts to cram this message down your throat. It is John's decision, but we too eventually feel it is the correct one for him. |
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My
only complaint about this film is the imposed re-titling for marketing
purposes; "Beyond Suspicion"?? This seems as generic as it
gets as well as totally inappropriate for the content of the film. The
back cover of the DVD and VHS tape show an almost imperceptibly remembered
scene in which Heche holds a gun on a would-be blackmailer. It is
obvious what ploy the studio was going for. A shame, but I suppose the
life altering experiences and rebirth of one man is not a big enough
selling feature these days... certainly not as crowd-drawing as a
gun-toting blonde. I LOVED this film and have no trouble giving it |
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FILM and DVD Details BUY (CLICK LOGO:
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The
widescreen 1.85:1 anamorphic DVD has excellent picture quality and clear
Dolby digital 5.1 sound. This is obviously not the DVD to test out your
eardrums or impress the neighbors.... the story does not warrant such ostentatious
displays. However, the extras on this product are quite extensive with
an alternate ending (simply removing the final sequence with Heche) and
interviews with the productions principles. A trailer is also included.
It has everything except the, perhaps unnecessary, directors
commentary. |
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| Full Cast and Crew for Auggie Rose (2000) Directed by Matthew Tabak Writing credits (WGA) Matthew Tabak (written by) Cast (in credits order) Anne Heche .... Lucy Jeff Goldblum .... John Nolan Nancy Travis .... Carol Timothy Olyphant .... Roy Mason Joe Santos .... Emanuel Richard T. Jones .... Decker Kim Coates .... Auggie Paige Moss .... Noreen Casey Biggs .... Carl Richard Gilbert-Hill .... Woods Peter Siragusa .... Zeke Randall Slavin (I) .... Robber Tony Genaro .... Romeo Jack Kehler .... Weeks Douglas Roberts (I) .... Dr. Sachs J.E. Freeman .... Lester Hawthorne James .... Macdoogall Michael Chieffo .... Mr. Williams Tanya Beilke .... Waitress Erich Anderson (I) .... Paul Sydney Walsh .... Suzanne Nick Chinlund .... Salesman David Dunard .... Desk Sargeant Max Perlich .... Landlord Joseph Chrest .... Rhineback (as Joe Chrest) Adilah Barnes .... Mailman Gerald McCullouch .... Mr. Lark Jon Huertas .... Paramedic Amy Hill .... Karla Tony Perez (I) .... Detective Cole Tony Abatemarco .... Maitre D' Anthony DeSantis (II) .... Attendant Richard Pagano .... Deli Owner #2 Vince Jolivette .... Customer In Store Matthew Tabak .... Customer at the End Tom Miller (VII) .... Paramedic #2 Produced by Mark McGarry .... executive producer Richard Pagano .... co-producer Matthew A. Rhodes .... producer Elie Samaha .... executive producer Jeremiah Samuels .... executive producer Tracee Stanley .... co-producer Andrew Stevens .... executive producer Dan Stone (I) .... producer Original music by Don Harper Mark Mancina Cinematography by Adam Kimmel (I) Film Editing by Brian Berdan Casting by Eyde Belasco Richard Pagano Production Design by Caroline Hanania Art Direction by Christopher Tandon Set Decoration by Lisa Fischer Costume Design by Wendy Chuck Makeup Department Carol Strong .... key make-up artist Production Management Michael P. Flannigan .... production supervisor Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Susie Balaban .... second second assistant director William Paul Clark .... first assistant director Dawn Massaro .... second assistant director Art Department Christy Wilson .... assistant art director Mark Woods (II) .... lead man Sound Department Felipe Borrero .... sound mixer Wayne Heitman .... sound re-recording mixer Bruce Murphy (I) .... dialogue editor Gina Nuccio .... assistant dialogue editor Jeanette Surga .... music editor Stunts Frank Torres (I) .... stunt co-ordinator Other crew Dominic Aluisi .... camera loader Anthony M. Gutierrez .... second assistant camera Nicki Johnson .... assistant production office coordinator Catherine Kegan .... location manager Christie Kwan .... production assistant Jamie Lagerhausen .... key grip Michael Martinez (I) .... first assistant camera Maureen Norton .... post-production supervisor Bryan Palliccia .... production assistant Joel T. Pashby .... assistant editor Michael Santy .... camera operator: "a" camera Judith Saunders .... script supervisor Ian Watermeier .... finance coordinator |
DVD Technical
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