Tape (June 3/02)

Tape is one of those movies it's impossible to talk about without divulging various secrets found within, so it might be a good idea to watch the flick before reading this review.

The primary reason for that is because it's based on a one-act play, set entirely in one room and consisting of just three characters. Hard to believe that a movie containing only dialogue could be so entertaining, but when the writing is this good and the acting even better, it's hard to complain.

As the movie opens, we meet Vince (played by Ethan Hawke), a 20-something slacker type who's waiting in a cramped motel room for John (Robert Sean Leonard) - his high school buddy. Vince is a slacker in every sense of the word: he's unkempt and disheveled, drinks too much and does drugs, and (as we later discover) makes his money dealing. John, on the other hand, is pretty much Vince's polar opposite: He's clean shaven, doesn't appear to do drugs anymore, and is working towards becoming a filmmaker (he's in town showing his movie at a festival). It's easy to imagine these two friends having a lot in common in high school, but obviously, only John has moved on with his life since then. Their initial conversation is of the "let's catch up" sort, but soon moves onto a more serious topic. It turns out both men dated the same girl in high school, a person named Amy, and Vince now wants to know whether or not John raped her. An admission follows, as does the introduction of the grown-up Amy (played by Uma Thurman), and the remainder of the film becomes a series of revelations and accusations among the three.

Tape has been directed (but not written) by Richard Linklater, known primarily for movies featuring an abundance of dialogue. He's chosen to use digital video rather than celluloid, and in this case, it works. Most movies that use this cheaper-than-dirt format (most notably the overrated Chuck and Buck) invariably end up about as entertaining as a school play. But it works here, giving the material (pardon the overused cliché) immediacy, while forcing the audience to confront the characters in a more direct fashion (and even allowing us the somewhat unpleasant sensation of being trapped in that room with them).

But no matter how good the script is, it would have been worthless without some really spectacular acting backing it up. Leading the cast is Ethan Hawke, last seen losing the Oscar to Jim Broadbent. And while he was quite good in Training Day - the film he was nominated for - he's far better here. Vince is reminiscent of Hawke's character in Reality Bites, except this guy has to down a shot of whiskey just to get going in the morning. He's a slacker all right; the sort of character Hawke could probably play in his sleep. But instead, Hawke produces what is probably his best (and most versatile) performance to date. Vince veers between hyperactivity and resolute calm within seconds, and Hawke perfectly captures the restless nature of this character. Robert Sean Leonard, taking the far less flashy role (just as Hawke himself did in Training Day), is just as good as the seemingly normal guy with a terrible secret. And Uma Thurman, when she finally shows up, finally gets the chance to play a normal person (albeit one with a lot of hatred and spite within her). After years of playing blind women, vacuous beauties and dolled-up courtesans, this just may be the most contemporary character she's ever played. She's very good here, and a fine addition to the cast.

What really makes Tape worth watching (not to mention so entertaining, given the fact that it's essentially plotless) is the script. Unlike some other filmed plays, this one contains dialogue that sounds realistic. It never sounds forced or stagy; rather, it's easy enough to imagine that these are real folks. One thing that may be a little jarring is the ambiguous nature of the screenplay. By the time the end rolls around, we're left in the dark as to what actually happened that fateful day in high school. And while that lack of a definitive conclusion may be a touch pretentious, it's worth noting that not every movie should have a finite ending. Tape begs repeat viewings and lengthy discussions.

Few adaptations of plays work as well as Tape does. Don't miss it.