THE SON OF NO ONE
US, 2011, 90 minutes, Colour.
Channing Tatum, Ray Liotta, James Ransone Katie Holmes, Al Pacino, Juliette Binoche, Tracy Morgan, Ursula Parker, Jake Cherry.
Directed by Dito Montiel.
The Son of No One was written and directed by Dito Montiel. Drawing on his own New York experiences, he has made A Guide to your Regular Saints and Fighting.
Channing Tatum was the star of Fighting. He has a different role here, a policeman who has a complex past. As a boy, his policeman father was killed; he was looked after by his grandmother, and had a strong friendship with an African American boy, Vincent. Jonathan (Tatum) was responsible for the deaths of two disreputable men. This was covered up by his father’s friend, a police inspector played by Al Pacino.
His career is threatened by letters to a journalist (Juliette Binoche) as is his family. He is married to Katie Holmes. His superior officer, Ray Liotta, is concerned about the reputation of the police force. So is Jonathan’s partner, played by James Ransone.
The film moves in time from the 1980s to 2002 and back again. The situation is complicated by Vincent who has had a life of treatment in institutions. The film climaxes with a moral decision by Jonathan as well as a resolution to the problem, killings, and the cover-up.
1. Dito Montiel and his career, reputation, his New York stories, from the streets? Tough stories?
2. Staten island? The 1980s, 2000s? The contrast with Queens? The different neighborhoods, the buildings, interiors, the rooms, the roofs, the streets, the precincts? Institutions? The musical score?
3. Jonathan, the title of the film, the explanation by Loren,? As a boy, the death of his father, Stanford and his taking them under his wing, the talks? The grandmother and her care? Vincent, friendship? Vicki and her observing? The drug dealer, his threatening Jonathan, entering the room, Jonathan shooting him? Hiding? Vincent, the sexual encounters, Jonathan pushing the man down the stairs? The cover-up? The burden for Jonathan into adulthood?
4. Jonathan, the new century, his love for his wife, his concern about his daughter, her health? The scenes at home, her turns? His decision to become a policeman? Motivation? The tense relationship with his partner? The work? Mathers and his treatment of Jonathan, superior officer? The letters to the journalist? The discussions with Loren? Her disdain for him? Her not believing him? Her death and its effect? Audience sympathies with Jonathan?
5. Loren, her work, the letters, her suspicions, investigations, the threats, the publications, the reaction of the police, the photographs of Jonathan with Loren, her being gunned down?
6. Jonathan and his wife, her being upset, seeing him injured? Her sympathy? The threats to Jonathan, bashed, the truth, motives?
7. Jonathan’s partner, the work, sneering, part of the frame up, with Mathers? His being on the roof, the shootings?
8. Jonathan visiting Vincent, the incident in his life, sexual orientation and behavior, institution, treatment, the adult Vincent and his nerves, suspicion that he had sent the letters? Jonathan confronting him? Mathers and his ultimatum? Sending Jonathan away, in the car, his turning around, coming to the roof?
9. Stanford and his role, his reputation after 9/11? The past, meeting Jonathan again, his seeming sincerity, his part in the cover-up? His reasons, the shooting? The violence?
10. The cover, the headlines, Vincent’s death, Jonathan’s regrets, Vincent being blamed for the shootings? As well as the murders in 1986? Finally seeing Vicki, her sending the letters, her reasons, being satisfied?
11. The film as a variation on New York police stories?
