FIELDER’S CHOICE

US, 2005, 85 minutes, Colour.
Chad Lowe, K' Sun Ray, Marron Hinkle, George Segal, Ellen Green, Charles Napier.
Directed by Kevin Connor.

Fielder’s Choice is a nice telemovie. It is also quite predictable, which is part of its niceness. The film focuses on Chad Lowe as a young man, artist, with ambitions to be the art director for a big client in an advertising agency. However, his sister, also an artist (Ellen Green) lands her son (K' Sun Ray) on him for the weekend. Then you start to guess that she is going to die (which she does) and Uncle Philip will have to take care of the boy. He has an important presentation which could mean a big career from his boss (George Segal).

Many predictable things happen but Chad Lowe is quite sympathetic, even in his self-centredness. K' Sun Ray has quite a screen presence and charm. All the inevitable things happen as regards the funeral, the uncle taking care of his nephew, deciding to send him to a cousin, having second thoughts, also persuading the client that he is the best art director.

This kind of film needs a less sophisticated response because of its sentiment, heart in the right place, focus on family and relationships – as well as being able to give up lucrative careers for family.

1.A pleasing film? Human values? Unsophisticated? Predictable?

2.The Los Angeles settings, the advertising agencies, apartments? The contrast with Fresno and the countryside? Authentic LA atmosphere? The musical score?

3.The title, the focus on Philip, his experiences, the challenges, his emotions, family, career, choice?

4.The focus on Philip, the competition with Lou, J.D. and the agency? The commission for Cowboy Bob’s restaurants? Lou and his leering smile, ambitions? Philip and his earnestness? His working at home, Jill arriving with Zac, leaving him with Philip? Her breezy nature, his owing her favours, her having taught him to draw? His trying to deal with Zac, Zac being incommunicative? The next day Zac talkative? Trying to manage at home, the dog walker and taking Zac with her and the dogs? His trying to find ways to occupy Zac? His trying to get his work done? Growing exasperation? Zac coming into the office, crashing into the secretary? J.D. and his attitude? Cowboy Bob and his demands? The news of the funeral, Roy and his coming to visit Philip? Philip’s not telling Zac? The funeral? The airport, Philip telling Zac and Zac’s incomprehension? Grief? Rose and her offer to take Zac? Holly and her criticisms of Philip, their relationship? Her looking after Zac? Bursting into the key meeting? Philip and his taking Zac to Cowboy Bob’s, their eating everything on the menu? His making the decision, taking Zac to Rose? Leaving him? His presentation, in the restaurant, the slogan, ‘Eat up – share a meal’? Bob being impressed, J.D? J.D. talking with him, offering him the job? His decision, going to get Zac, the reunion? A changed man?

5.Zac, his age, relationship with his mother? The absent father? Awkwardness, learning disability and the diagnosis? The accident when he arrived? His love for the dogs? With Philip, his menus for the day, the supermarket and wanting pizza? Going to sleep? Out with Bernadette? His becoming talkative? Love of planes? His ability to draw? His annoying Philip? With Holly? The outings, the news of his mother’s death? Philip telling him at the airport, his not understanding? His questions at the funeral, where his mother was, standing with the angel? Playing with Roy’s son? His being comfortable with Roy and the boy? Philip taking him to the day-care centre but its being too busy? Bernadette looking after him and the mess in the house? Holly taking him to the office? His crashing into the secretary? Going to stay with Rose, unhappy, the food, the cousins? Philip coming to rescue him, his happiness and the embrace?

6.Holly, the surgeon, her criticisms of Philip and his responsibility? Sharing with Zac, the funeral, looking after him?

7.Bernadette, the dogs, taking Zac out, the mess in the house?

8.J.D., the agency, promoting Philip? Lou and his character, his presentation, the clichés? The presentation to Cowboy Bob, his demands, the handshake, listening to Lou’s presentation, the restaurant, Philip’s presentation and the slogan, success?

9.Human issues, presented directly, able to be understood and appreciated by the widest audience?