{"id":31578,"date":"2021-06-02T17:07:49","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T00:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/?p=31578"},"modified":"2021-06-02T17:07:49","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T00:07:49","slug":"here-today-will-stay-with-you-through-your-own-tomorrows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/behindthelensonline.net\/site\/reviews\/movies\/here-today-will-stay-with-you-through-your-own-tomorrows\/","title":{"rendered":"HERE TODAY will stay with you through your own tomorrows"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Leave it to Billy Crystal to not only give us laughter but heartfelt tears along with it. Poignant and beautiful, HERE TODAY tugs at the heartstrings with laughter, love, and friendship. As writer\/director, Billy Crystal\u2019s production values and attention to visual and metaphoric detail is impeccable. This is real cinematic storytelling. But then toss in an award-worthy performance by Crystal which showcases a powerful story co-written with Alan Zweibel, and then add Tiffany Haddish as a comedy playmate for Crystal and the result is beyond outstanding.<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ve seen quite a few superlative films examining dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s the past few years, among them, The Cuban<\/em> starring Louis Gossett, Jr., and The Father<\/em> boasting an Academy Award-winning turn by Anthony Hopkins. While The Cuban<\/em> leads us into the subject through music and The Father<\/em> focuses on heavy drama, approaching the issue of dementia through a heartfelt comedy lens makes it more resonant, more hopeful, and more appealing to the average moviegoer. And this is what Crystal does with such sensitivity. This blend of comedy with underlying drama has the ability to ease the fear and pain of so many who are facing or have family members facing dementia and being here today and memories gone tomorrow.<\/p>\n

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As much as I loved Crystal in Standing Up, Falling Down<\/em> last year, which truly was perhaps his best acting performance to date, it pales in comparison to what he brings to the table with HERE TODAY. \u201cWow\u201d is an understatement for the heart and emotion he gives us not only as Charlie Burnz but in the script and in his direction.<\/p>\n

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HERE TODAY tells the tale of veteran comedy writer Charlie Burnz and how his life changes when he meets New York street singer Emma Payge. Forming a truly \u201codd couple\u201d friendship, the result is hilarious and touching, redefining what love, trust, and family mean, especially when Emma realizes that there\u2019s something deadly lurking beneath Charlie\u2019s facade of laughter.<\/p>\n

Crystal soars with the personalized comedy and nods to some of his own most notable comedy moments (hits us right on the funny bone at the outset with the take-off on the When Harry Met Sally orgasmic lunch with Haddish’s Emma going through Meg Ryan\u2019s patented add-ons and sides with the waiter and then instead of orgasm has an explosive allergic reaction to the mussels – HILARIOUS!), as well as some nods to unforgettable movie moments; such as Network<\/em> and Howard Beale’s on-air meltdown “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!”. Crystal\u2019s Charlie Burnz gets his own Howard Beale moment and it is brilliant. That scene should be submitted for awards consideration for 2022. It\u2019s an emotional powerhouse that turns the tone of the film.<\/p>\n

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The mentorship by Charlie of young comedy writer Darrell is a winner on multiple levels as the more we learn about Darrell, the more we see that even though Charlie may leave us at some point, as long as there is someone telling his stories and jokes and embracing all that Charlie was and is, Charlie will never be gone. Andrew Durand proves to be a real find as he brings a genuine sweet shyness to Darrell that just makes your heart smile.<\/p>\n

A real \u201cwow\u201d factor comes courtesy of Tiffany Haddish. Typically hit and miss with me, here as Emma Payge, Haddish is fantastic. Her chemistry with Crystal is off the charts. And her comedy timing meshes with Crystal perfectly. The two seamlessly feed off of one another. Haddish makes Emma a life force. How can you not be alive and loving life with Emma around? Her musical numbers are to-die-for fabulous. But on the flip side, the emotionality, sensitivity and quiet calm that she delivers as she sees what’s happening to Charlie, just melts the heart. Emma has a generosity of spirit and heart that is a tacit lesson to all of us. I could watch Haddish and Crystal all day. These two are effortless joy even in the saddest moments.<\/p>\n

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While to me she will always be “Too Tall McCall” from Rob Reiner’s The American President<\/em>, Anna Deavere Smith is perfection as she brings the perfect amount of gravitas to this story with her take as Charlie\u2019s treating physician, Dr. Vidor. Notable cameos also abound with everyone from Sharon Stone to Kevin Kline to Bob Costas, all representing pieces of Charlie\u2019s past.<\/p>\n

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The visual tonal bandwidth that Crystal and his cinematographer Vanju Cernjul deliver is perfect for this story. For the most part, camera framing is kept wider or in a medium two-shot but for a few early ECUs (e.g., the typewriter and “For Carrie”, most notably) and then as we get into the third act as Charlie is forced to face his mental deterioration. Love the metaphor of the wider frame – particularly when focusing in on the life-loving Emma and a big world. But as Emma becomes more entwined with Charlie’s world, the camera starts creeping in closer, narrowing her world as well. Wonderful visual metaphor.<\/p>\n

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Heartbreaking, and where the tears start to flow, is the midpoint of the film when Charlie can’t take his usual route to work because of construction. The power of that scene and the fact that Cernjul and Crystal don’t spin the camera 360 but keep swinging it back and forth with a 180 movement speaks volumes. Charlie is at a crossroads and must make a decision. A 360 would indicate he’s just spinning in a circle and out of control. With a 180 movement, he’s still got some control but must make decisions; decisions he’s afraid to make or can’t make because of the fear. Crystal’s face, the fear, the hands going up to the ears and clenching the sides of his head, that fear is palpable.<\/p>\n

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Andrew Jackness’ production design comes into play with the design of Charlie’s house and the warm yet claustrophobic nature of it, representing his small world, a world that he can control and that is now contained in a shrinking space, aka his mind and memories. Just look at the furniture placement and the little “paths” created by it, much like the obstacles or pathways in the mind. Countering that is the tv studio which has levels of negative space that speak to the darkness that’s entering Charlie’s world. Flashback sequences of Charlie\u2019s now-deceased wife Carrie are softer, backlit with diffused sun with all the beauty that our memories often have. Delicate beauty.<\/p>\n

Cynthia Flynt does a beautiful job with costuming, notably with Emma’s costumes. She brings in looks that have nods to past decades. It feels like Charlie looking at Emma’s outfits helps him hold on to memories of days gone by. The sequined flapper dress is absolutely killer and the standout of the costuming as it is carried through into hair and make-up and jewelry.<\/p>\n

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Icing on the cake is Charlie Rosen’s score. It is beautiful and hopefully, there will be a soundtrack available complete with the score and the songs Emma sings. The score takes us on a musical journey of the decades and has some exquisite motifs running throughout, most notably a soft slow jazz tune that is “Charlie Burnz.”<\/p>\n

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At the end of the day, this is a film about life and living it, no matter what the outcome may or may not be. The drop-dead money shot of this film is a sunset at Lake Charlie; golden hour perfection with an oh-so-still lake. If you’re in your own sunset, I hope that’s the way it looks and feels for everyone.<\/p>\n

Directed by Billy Crystal
\nWritten by Billy Crystal and Alan Zweibel, inspired by the short story “The Prize”<\/p>\n

Cast: Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Anna Deavere Smith, Andrew Durand<\/p>\n

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by debbie elias, 05\/01\/2021<\/p>\n

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