Tribeca 2012 Review: ANY DAY NOW

ANY DAY NOW may have a story that seems fitting for a Movie of the Week but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a incredibly well crafted film full of surprisingly powerful performances. Paul (Garret Dillahunt) is a closeted District Attorney and Rudy (Alan Cumming) is an aspiring singer currently working as lead in a drag performance at a gay bar. When Rudy’s negligent junkie neighbor ends up in jail, he looks after her son Marco (Isaac Leyva), a teenager with Down syndrome. Family Services places Marco in a foster home but Rudy soon finds him wandering the streets and takes him in once again. With temporary custody approved by Marco’s mother, Rudy and Paul begin raising him as their own. But when it is discovered Rudy and Paul are not cousins but a gay couple, they face a harsh legal battle to keep Marco in the safe and loving family environment they created for him.

Garret Dillahunt is probably best known for continuing the long-standing tradition of hilarious TV dads on Fox’s RAISING HOPE. I do not watch the show nearly as often as I’d like but he is consistently funny whenever I do. I haven’t noticed him in much else so it was a very pleasant surprise to see that just like Bryan Cranston (another former scene-stealing TV dad), Dillahunt is just as gifted a dramatic actor as he is comedic. He has a strong presence in the film and some truly great chemistry with the equally talented Alan Cumming. This may be Cumming’s best performance to date or at least his most powerful. Newcomer Isaac Leyva is truly captivating as Marco, almost immediately forming a deep connection with the viewer.

Travis Fine also deserves much praise for his expert handling of this story. Not only does he prove himself a very capable director but his writing is sharp and full of emotion. Credit for the script also belongs to George Arthur Bloom who originally wrote it over 40 years ago, which was the basis for Fine’s rewrite. It can be extremely difficult to find the right balance of humor for a film like this but the light touches throughout feel completely natural and welcomed. The only time I was a little caught off guard was the introduction of Don Franklin as a quite comical lawyer who shows up in the third act. At first he seemed to walk in from a different movie but he actually adds a lot of necessary levity that eases us into the finale.

The film takes place in the 70s but its underlying themes are just as relevant today. Full of fantastic performances, this is certainly a film that will have some buzz around it come Awards season. As someone who tends to avoid movies that require a box of Kleenex with ticket purchase, I cannot recommend this movie enough. Go see it, even if you are a cold heartless bastard.

Jerry Cavallaro – @GetStuck – JerryCavallaro.com