While cleaning up my bedroom (I still have boxes all over the place from setting up my toy/guest room) I decided to watch some of my favorite movies. First was Willow, it's one of my all time favorite fantasy movies but the movie I really wanted to talk about is Powder.
Powder came out in 1995, I was 25 and saw it four or five times in the theater. I just recently got it on DVD (Christmas) and decided to put it on, I haven't seen it since I saw it in the theater, 19 years ago. OMG!!! I forgot how much I love this movie.
First here is a short synopsis of the movie if you haven't seen it: When sheriff Barnum investigates the death of an elderly rural resident,
he discovers a teenage grandson living in the basement. Raised by his
grandparents, he has experienced the world only through books, never
leaving the family farm. He is sent to a state home for boys where he
has trouble fitting in socially. His odd appearance and unusual
abilities cause the small town residents to fear and ridicule him.
However, not all are afraid. Some begin to view his potential and gifts
with wonderment.
This is a very rare gem of a movie. In a time when movies have a lot of
fx to cover up a weak story, to graphic unnecessary violence and sex.
Powder basically shows a pure and unique individual that is not
accepted in today's society that has become jaded with discrimination,
and overall being afraid of someone who looks different.
There are
several important elements in the movie. There is the paranormal factor
that challenges what we know of science and the human mind can
achieve, the extent of human cruelty, love and forgiveness, and a hope
that one day that our humanity will advance beyond our technology. But most of all, raw emotion that
reaches deep into the heart and leaves a impression that will stay with
you forever.
The idea of being different because of looks or
something that makes you stand out from the status quo, we can all relate to. This movie achieves this in a
powerful, passionate and inspirational way. This movie makes you sit
back and take in everything, showing us what the world may be if we
stop judging one another and start to accept our uniqueness. What also
is shown in this movie is just that just because someone may look
different or how they act that they are some how weaker or a
part of the undesirables. Time and again this movie shows
us that perception needs to be changed. You have a
movie that looks like it could be a Carrie type movie but ends up
showing the sad inability to treat Powder with any sense of humanity
and dignity. But no matter what, he stays his pure positive self. In some
scenes showing the error of our ways and then in the end makes a final
act that hopefully makes people want to change for the better.
Powder is one of the most powerful movies that I have seen in a long
time. I remember loving it when it first come out but even after watching it
again almost 20 years later it still has the same effect on me. It tugs
at the heart and brings you to tears.
I'll be the first to admit that I cry
fairly easy at movies/television, but there are those rare times when
watching a movie and it feels as though someone has ripped out your heart. There is a
physical pain from what is happening on screen, this is one of
those movies. There are three or four scenes that the tears just flow
uncontrollably.
Here are some of those scenes... (WARNING SPOILERS) The scene that kills me every time is when Jeff Goldblum's character is
talking to Powder and Powder says that after a while his grandparent
were afraid to touch him. And Jeff's character says how wrong that is and
gently touches the side of his face and as Powder begins to cry and lay his head down Jeff's character continues to lovenly rub the back of his head, it's beyond touching. Jeff's character is doing what the audience wants to do. To let him know he's perfect the way he is and no one deserves to be alone and unloved.
Another scene is where Powder helps the local sheriff understand what his
dying wife wants, which is to just reconcile with his son. Again the acting is amazing and I'm getting chocked up just thinking about that scene.
Another good scene is where a hunter (racist Deputy) shoots a
deer and Powder touches the deer and the hunter and shows him the pain
the deer feels before it dies, which has a profound effect on the hunter, but he is still a ass afterwards.
There is this scene when Powder is talking to a girl that he likes and they touch hands and both start feeling each others emotions before they kiss.
I can go on and on with favorite scenes but I want to talk about the acting.
The main character Jeremy "Powder" (
Sean Patrick Flanery) is so gentle, so kind hearted, so lonely you just want to wrap him up in a huge bear hug. Sean is amazing playing this shy, sensitive, awkward young man. He defiantly make this "fantastical" character believable.
The other main characters are portrayed by Mary Steenburgen, who I love and plays the mother figure for Powder. Lance Henriksen who is amazing and has some very emotional scenes and Jeff Goldblum, who once again shines as the loving and caring Science teacher.
I just want to mention the music real quick... which was done by Jerry Goldsmith. It's AMAZING... haunting and chilling at times yet beautiful and fantastical. Very much what you would expect from the very talented Mr. Goldsmith
Of course you can't talk about Powder without mentioning the writer and director of the film Victor Salva. Who was convicted a few years prior for molesting a 12-year-old child actor during the production of his previous film. When Powder was released, the victim came forward again in an attempt to get others to boycott the film in protest. It kind of put a black cloud over the release though the movie is still considered a sleeper hit grossing just over 30 million (costing only 10 million to make). It's unfortunate that such a beautiful movie has this horrible stain that will forever be associated with it.
The
cynics will cry out the usual "manipulative!" and "sappy!" jibes but pay no
attention. This is a beautifully shot film telling a moving, fascinating
tale of a boy who happens to be different. I really love this film and think
it was one of the unsung movies of the 90's. Highly recommended.
Already purchased this movie on DVD (still waiting a blu-ray release) and give Powder the highest rating I can... A+
I can't say enough about the special effects, I mean the story and the acting are fantastic but the SFX are just unbelievable.. or I should say are super believable. They created this amazing fantasy world and had three "real life" people interacting with it and it was flawless. The three tiny faeries look amazing and the battles scenes were fantastic.
