GIGLI

US, 2003, 110 minutes, Colour.
Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha, Christopher Walken, Al Pacino.
Directed by Martin Brest.

This film received some of the worst reviews of 2003 and was a notable failure at the box office. This seems strange because, at the time, the stars, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez were an item and planning marriage - which did not take place.

Writer-director Martin Brest has some notable films in his CV, particularly the first Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run and Scent of a Woman. He also directed Meet Joe Black. Scent and Joe Black were particularly long, moving at a stately pace and with some padding. This is one of the major problems with
Gigli. It is far too long and inflated for its very slight plot. Ben Affleck has often seemed wooden in his performances and this is the case here. On the other hand, Jennifer Lopez has a lively screen presence. They are joined by newcomer, Justin Bartha, as a mentally impaired young man. There are brief cameos by Christopher Walken and Al Pacino (whom Brest directed in his Oscar winning Scent of a Woman) which lift the energy somewhat.

Affleck is a petty gangster, a loner dominated by his mother (Lanie Kazan in a bright cameo). When he is asked to abduct the impaired young man and finds Lopez as an unwilling partner, he bumbles along, finds that she is lesbian, is asked to cut off the young man's thumb... And then they find themselves in the clutches of Pacino as a big-time gangster. Will they escape, will they find romance, will the young man get to go to the Baywatch beach which is his main ambition in life? The film spends two glossy hours answering these questions which are not really (rhymes with Gigli) of major moment.

Before they split, Affleck and Lopez made Jersey Girl for Affleck’s friend, Kevin Smith.

1. An entertaining film? The poor reception from the critics and the public? The teaming of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez? Working well together?

2. The Los Angeles settings, so much of the action in Larry's apartment? The streets, the beach, the environment of Los Angeles? The musical score? The songs?

3. The title, the emphasis on its pronunciation? Larry and his family background, his being seen as sad by Ricki, the pressure from his mother, the phone call, the visit, her treatment of him, love for him, urging him on, approving of the relationship with Ricki? His first being seen in the laundromat, talking to the victim, talking to the audience? His wanting to be a gangster, his loneliness, solitary? The potential for violence? His meeting with Lewis? The pressures, the mission to kidnap Brian? His willingness to do it, going to the institution, Brian pointed out, his technique, his exasperation, lack of sympathy for Brian? The discussions about Baywatch and his using it? Taking him home, keeping him there, the arrival of Ricki, his puzzle, her taking over? His having to read to Brian, from the packets (no book in the house)? The discussions with Ricki about sex, her declaring she was lesbian? Her reading, his vanity in the bathroom, the bedroom? The decisions of what to do with Brian, taking him out, going to visit his mother? The orders from Lewis, the discussion about sending the thumb? Their both being unwilling to do this? Going to the morgue, Ricki distracting the attendant, taking the thumb, going to the post office and sending it? The arrival of Ricki's girlfriend, the scene in the house, slitting her wrists, his taking her to hospital? Their being picked up and taken to the gangsters house, his shooting of Lewis, his bullying of them, Ricki and her smart plans? Their taking Brian, wanting to take him back home, passing the beach, letting him go to mingle with the film crew? Larry and his decision to give the car to Ricki, her telling him her real name? His thinking over things? Her arrival back, going off with her? Watching Brian and his enjoyment of dancing with the girls on the beach? The Australian girl - and Brian's listening to the Australian weather on the phone? What future for Larry and Ricki? His character, Ben Affleck's screen presence and style, a touch stolid, brutal and isolated, sad, yet the potential for vulnerability?

4. Ricki, Jennifer Lopez's style, arriving at the door, the phone, taking over, declaring she was lesbian? The anatomical discussion? Her care for Brian? Urging Larry to be kind? Her girlfriend arriving and the scene? The visit to Larry's mother, their getting on well? The issue of the thumb, her not wanting to cut it off? Distracting the attendant at the morgue? At the post office? Her smart ways with the gangster? Her taking the car, her coming back? In love with Larry - their night together? A future together? Jennifer Lopez's style?

5. Brian, his relationship to the prosecutor, in the institution, his speech, his blurting things out? The mental retardation? Going with Larry, wanting to see Baywatch, in the house, hungry, not liking the food, going to bed, wanting Larry to read to him? His verve, the visit to Larry's mother? The danger? Their taking him to the beach, his going with the film crew, meeting the girl, hearing her accent, his liking the voice of the Australian girl on the phone with the weather? A sympathetic portrayal?

6. Christopher Walken's cameo as the investigating policeman, the strength of his presence, the interrogation, serious and comic?

7. Lainie Kazan as Larry's mother, strong, the injection, her hard talk, with Ricki, approving of her, her kindness to Brian?

8. Al Pacino's cameo as the gangster, his suit, hairdo, glasses, control, shooting Lewis? His speech threatening them - and his being persuaded to let them go? A clever portrait of a gangster?

9. Lewis, small-time crook, self-centred, lacking class, learning a word a day, the phone calls, the pressure on Larry? His being shot?

10. The length of the film, too long, inflated? A short story of Los Angeles and its environment made more than it deserved?