Things We Lost In The Fire
By Stanley Bennett Clay, in movies·viewpoints
Saturday, October 20 2007, 12:31PM
Reviews by Stanley Bennett Clay
After several embarrassing missteps in such cinematic dreck as "Gothika," "Catwoman," and "Perfect Stranger," Halle Berry regains her equilibrium in the sobering and heartfelt "Things We Lost In The Fire." As a wife and mother whose perfect husband is killed in a random act of violence, Ms. Berry gives her best performance since winning the Oscar for "Monster's Ball."
Director Susanne Bier, greatly aided by Allan Loeb's quietly intense script, takes a non-linear approach to introduce us to the characters, their heartbreaking circumstances, and their grieving process, a method that effectively informs us in bits and pieces, adding a reality devoid of histrionics and melodrama.
David Duchovny and Halle Barry are so perfectly matched as husband and wife Audrey and Steven Burke, and parents to ten-year-old Dory (Micah Berry) and ten-year-old Harper (Alexis Llewellyn), that the death of Steven goes straight to the heart.
Once anchored by the love and comforts of a perfect imperfect marriage, new widow Audrey, adrift, impulsively turns to Jerry Sundorne (a not surprising excellent performance by the reliable grunge-thesp Benicio Del Toro), a down-and out addict who has been her husband's best friend since childhood.
Desperate to fill the painful void caused by her husband's death, Audrey invites Jerry to move into the room adjacent to their garage in the hope that he can help her and her children with their sudden loss. Jerry, facing a daily battle to stay drug-free, becomes the unlikely surrogate dad and friend to Audrey's son and daughter.
As Jerry and Audrey navigate grief and denial, their fragile bonds are constantly put to the test. But working together, they discover the strength to move forward.
I really liked this film, even though the second act drags a bit. The honesty of the characters almost makes it seem like a documentary, and wonderful performances abound. As beautiful as Alexis Llewellyn and Micah Berry are as
Halle's children, there's not one moment of 'cutesy Hollywood kid actor' turns here. They're both great.
A solid supporting cast is lead by John Carroll Lynch as Howard, an affable neighbor and family friend. David Duchovny is wonderful too, and his romantic and family moments with his wife and children are both beautiful and sad, since we know from the beginning his fate.
But this film belongs to Halle Berry. She almost single-handedly carries it. She brings a maturity to this role not seen in anything else she has done. Every moment of her grieving process is magnificently detailed and heart-wrenching, from trying to master sleeping sans her husband's arms around her to suddenly snapping at her wonderful children for no good reason.
African-American actresses rarely get opportunities like this, that of an ordinary woman navigating past, unfortunately, an ordinary tragedy. Fortunately for us, this rare opportunity is in the hands of an actress in rare form. Bravo, Ms. Berry!
Stanley Bennett Clay is a Los Angeles-based publisher, writer and author of several novels, including In Search of Pretty Young Black Men and Looker.
Comments conceal
Kenneth Winfrey
October 20 2007, 1:50PM
Halle has made a name for herself. I actually liked her in both "Gothika" and "Catwoman--" as she was brave enough to play a female super hero in a world where male super heroes are oversold IMO...
Both roles seemed made more for white women (or were intended for "every" woman...) but she stepped up, did them, and took the chance to play more universal parts that help her gain the attention of people of all colors.
I plan to see this movie ASAP. Thanks to your excellent review, I can look forward to it!
Dean
October 20 2007, 2:42PM
Correction: Ms. Berry is not Black or an African American. She's mixed or biracial. Please don't adopt the racist slur that one drop of African/Black blood makes you African/Black.
Ron
October 20 2007, 3:12PM
Dean...couldn't agree more. People who subscribe to the notion that Tiger Woods is black and that Halle Berry are black have that one drop slave mentality to me. Just because the world at large view them one way doesn't mean that they are. I know we like to claim certain people but she's as much white as she is black.
Journey
October 20 2007, 3:36PM
Halle Berry self identifies as African American
Stanley Bennett Clay
October 20 2007, 4:05PM
I must agree with Journey. The wondereful, gifted Ms. Berry totally self-identifies as African American. I respectfully adhere to her wishes. If she calls herself African American, I deferentially call her African American. For those who choose to claim her otherwise, well, perhaps you should check with Ms. Berry, and/or check your agenda.
'dre
October 20 2007, 6:25PM
Funny, I don't think of her as anything but Halle Berry, Oscar winning actress with a mixed heritage, and she can say what she wants to as to who she feels she is best identified with, and with a mighty fine baby daddy, something I seldom say about white men, she seems happy, something she has not been in years, black, white or biracial. Now, had she stayed with Wesley Snipes and his foolishness and Eric Benet, she would still be unhappy, getting bad roles etc., and now she has it all going on, baby on the way and a great role and the review of this movie makes me want to go and see it since it seems pretty good and there has been some Oscar buzz about Del Toro, worth the trip to the theatre.
Liquid Fonts
October 20 2007, 6:45PM
I luv Halle but remember too that as a Biracial person, her movies can have at least 2 seemingly opposite affects at once. Tearing down racial barriers while at the same time pointing out Skin Politics amongst Afrian Americans at no fault of her own. I recently read about a club event in Detroit that promoted a LIGHT SKINNED BLACK WOMEN GET IN FREE event that was later cancelled due to protest.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/610818,CST-EDT-douglas19.article
LaRufus
October 20 2007, 7:44PM
Liquid, child, that article blows me away, wow, most of the silly stereotypes out there seem to be still perpetuated by our own people. Light skin night, in Detroit of all places, sister's with a deep, dark beautiful skin tone should have sued that spot.
Great movie review too, thanks for some variety on the site Mr. Boykin.
Ostend Street
October 20 2007, 9:16PM
Thanks Mr. Clay for your excellent review. Halle is a great talent, a great beauty, and I appreciate your critique of her new film. Thanks again. By the way, I loved your book "Looker". Keep the good books coming.
Zero
October 20 2007, 10:04PM
Considering how complicated "our" blood is as people of African descent, who is to say who is black, not black enough, or black at all. It certainly isn't "Dean" and "Ron" who should have kept their comments and their ignorance to themselves. Regardless of parent, the blood of many African Americans is mixed racially and ethnically--and the more beautiful because of it.
Mr. Clay, ignore these distractors. Sadly, they find their way onto many a black blogger comment section. Their words are meant to divid.
titi
October 21 2007, 11:42AM
DEAN WE ARE TIRED OF YOUR KIND ALWAYS DIVIDING BLACK FOLK. SHE IS NOT AS STUPID AS YOU...
Billy
October 21 2007, 2:39PM
Getting back to the review of "Things We Lost In The Fire"... I had my doubts about seeing the film because Ms. Berry gave lackluster performances in Gothika and Catwoman but reading your review gave me a renewed confidence in her work. I will check it out. Thanks.
ToddyEnglish
October 21 2007, 3:12PM
Halle identifies as black. She always has(even before she took her white mother to the Oscars). People kill me with the whole semantics game now. If Halle says she's black (when she looks black)I'll call her black too, end of story. Just like I call Mariah Carey multi-racial at her behest. That whole issue was about her being "Biracial" was so irrelevant.
I've always thought Halle was a marginal actress. She is nowhere near the caliber of a Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, or Cate Blanchett. In all honesty, the only reason she's made it as far as she has is by trading on her looks (she is a great Hollywood beauty). I've never been able to stomach her acting.
Until now...
This was a wonderful, sincere, and moving performance. I related to it on a personal level. My father died when I was very young, suddenly and tragically, and trying to put the pieces together again was hell for my mother and I. The movie didn't pretty up the picture of loss and grief. You never get over it, but peace comes. Excellent film!
Anonymous
October 22 2007, 9:31AM
Sometimes I just get tired everybody having an opinion about something and I dream of utter peace and utter quiet where only nature and the sights and sounds of water, animals, and birds fill my eyes and ears.
Derrick from Philly
October 22 2007, 9:56AM
The "one drop" doctrine is the only good thing to come out of slavery. It meant that Fredi Washngton and Hattie MacDamiel were of the same race, same "family". It meant that W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington were of the same race, same "family". It meant Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson were of the same race, same "family". It means that Barack Obama and Maxine Waters are of the same race, same "family".
You want people descended from enslaved Africans to separate based on skin complexion or their parents, grandparents raciai differences? Not after 400 years, no.
He can be high yella, he can be jet black
So long as he can Eagle Rock a Ball the Jack
I wanna be somebody's baby doll
so I can my lovin' all the time
I mean, get my lovin' all the time
Hey, what about Jewish tradition(or doctrine)? If the mother's Jewish, the child is Jewish no matter what the daddy is--even if he's Louis Farrakhan.
Oh, Halle's a credit to her race. hee hee.
J
October 22 2007, 10:36AM
I don't understand why our community is so in love with this nearly talentless woman. I don't see or feel the "it." I have seen ONE decent film from her. I don't know how I ended up sitting through a few others, but NEVER again. This film looks like the nonsense you'd find on the Hallmark channel.
It's interesting that when she decided she wanted a child she didn't go looking for a Tyson or even a Shemar.
bubba
October 22 2007, 10:53AM
J, maybe she met the man first, and then decided to have a baby. And maybe her selection of partners wasn't a diabolical plot to tick you off. You'll have to clue me in on how her new family relates to this film review, though. I can't believe how many of you took the bait because one small-minded instigator is busy reducing people to a skin color. Actually, yes I CAN!
titi
October 22 2007, 11:11AM
ANONIMOUS Iam with you in that dream but saddly reality does not allow escapism without consequence..the fact is that we blacks have made fool out of ourself for centuries with one step forward and 4 steps back each time an opportunity of redemption present itself..I can't believe we are even dabating the who is black and who is not, almost every black has a some mixe colour..
even the darkest blacks are not excluded from that fact.Indeed we haven't learn much from history. we are emotionaly more fragment today than the darkest days of racial divide. This fragmentation is a sign of weakness that we are about to pay for dearly without exception.the black creole try this shit in haiti and louisiana and failled miserably. Now we have new group of unconscious men and women ready to repeat history. WE CAN ONLY wish them well!!!
Harry
October 22 2007, 12:44PM
Lets not forget this is a movie review
T. Zac
October 22 2007, 1:51PM
I saw this movie this weekend. I felt it was personally important to lend my $$ to the fact that this incrediable drama was lead by two people of color, Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro.
The acting was EXCELLENT. However, you must be a mature adult to appreciate it. If you have the mind and attention span of a 12-14 year you will not like this film.
Halle Berry delievered a realistic and nuanced performance. I can't say that she carried this film alone, Benicio Del Toro played a lawyer who struggled with Heroine addiction.
cheesegrits
October 22 2007, 4:55PM
just a note T.Zac: benecio del toro is not "of color." he would be considered white in any latin american nation. even on the us census forms, he would be considered white, and of hispanic origin.
ArrozConPollo
October 22 2007, 6:17PM
cheesegrits - you really need to get an education, man. Tu sabes nada de que estas diciendo, papi. What do so many people on this website resort to hatin' on anything and everything????
Benicio Del Torro is from Puerto Rico. No way, no how here in the U.S. he would ever be considered white.
But I guess you're not current on what the common definition of "people of color" is, now are you?
http://www.beniciodeltoro.com/benicio/bio.php
Ron
October 22 2007, 9:58PM
Gee...what happened to the days that you can make a comment about something without having some second grade catty comment thrown at you? When you start paying my Comcast broadband bill then you can dictate if and when I need to keep my mouth shut! If we don't agree thats fine but some of the comments as if some of you are all knowing is tired! ::YAWN:: Regardless of what Ms. Berry self identifies as, it doesn't change the fact that race is still a social construct. She may view herself as African American but others will take into account that she has significant caucasian heritage. Think what you want...its no big deal to me. All I'm saying is that the "one drop rule" mentality seems to be something that some of our people still subscribe to.
G-man
October 22 2007, 10:14PM
Great review. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie tomorrow. I love Halle!! I do have a question that has nothing to do with the film or review. Why are there so many cantankerous bloggers on this site? Can't we all just get along!! LOL : ) Seriously though some of ya'll need to chill out!!!
J
October 22 2007, 11:31PM
She's not even good enough to do porn.
The fact that we continue to support this woman(because without OUR support she would be banging some old white man for rent money)is one of the reasons black films are crap and we've got a Clear Channel rotation of black actors.
LaFontaye
October 23 2007, 12:52AM
J, I love it. Black folk love to rally behind this broad - who personally I've always seen as both borderline bipolor and a mediocre actress at best.
Laughable was the fact that she was ever given the Oscar for Best Actress for that wretched Monster's Ball performance. Her best performance to date has been the on-going one she's played out personally through the media in her real life role as The Tragic Mulatto. BRAVO Berry! She's never had my support in anything's she's ever done. I support men and women of color who firstly can actually act, and secondly, those who I feel are more representative of my culture as I know it to be. Berry falls outside of those paramaters....now more than ever - therefor I ain't got nothing for her.
Liquid Fonts
October 23 2007, 5:23AM
G-man you so right. I get the feeling that no matter what the topic is or who wrote it, they are here to spread hate on this site. Makes me wonder if they are even black or lgbt.
Anyway I heard Halle tell Tavis that paparazzi chased her in the streets one night causing her to crash her car into a wall knowing full well she was pregnant. I know the P'razzi helps their careers but damn!
Derrick from Philly
October 23 2007, 11:28AM
Throughout Hollywood history sometimes "mediocre" actors have managed to give a great screen performance: Bogart in "African Queen", Gary Cooper in "High Noon", John Wayne in "True Grit", Joan Crawford in "Mildred Pierce", Streisand in "Funny Girl", Taylor in "Who's...Virginia Wolf"; and sometimes they win Oscars for those performances.
The camera adores Halle Berry, and in the movies that may be more important than all the acting training/stage experience in the world.
Sometimes I wish actors with extensive stage experience would stay in the theater and stay out of the movies. They can't understand it( and say nasty things) when a movie star is better before the camera than they are--with all their legitimate stage experience.
Just because you're great on the stage doesn't mean you're going to be great on the screen.
Enjoy your 2nd Oscar nomination, Ms Berry.
J
October 23 2007, 1:54PM
It's a shame people don't feel the same way some of these cameras do.
She's a waste of studio money. I guess I have to give her some credit. Most people would be back in the ghetto, writing bad checks, and ebaying shit by now, but the roach won't die. Hollywood is still on her. She's apparently VERY good at something. Is that why Oprah's hot for her?
Derrick from Philly
October 23 2007, 3:33PM
J,
Aint nobody interested in this topic any more except you and me. Obviously, you don't think much of Ms Berry's big screen performances (and that's putting it mildly). What about her work on television? Her performance in "There Eyes Were Watching God" was exquisite. Not even Ms Zora Neal herself could have asked for a greater tribute to her work. When I think of great black screen actresses who were never given a chance: Diana Sands, Ruby Dee, Diane Caroll, Gloria Foster, Roslyn Cash--yes, I feel they were cheated, but that's not going to stop me from recognizing the untrained natural talent & screen presence of Halle Berry.
It's like comparing Bette Davis to Garbo. Davis was firey, emoting all over the place. Garbo didn't have to say a word of dialogue--everything was in her eyes. That's what screen acting is all about--the eyes. Halle's got great eyes for movie acting, J.
J
October 24 2007, 12:00AM
The only film I was able to tolerate her in was "Losing Isaiah,"(bad accent and all)and she wasn't even acting in that one.
Oh. My. Gaw.
I saw "Their Eyes..." and I relieved myself on the DVD after. It was great material, but she's a robot.
I mean the scenes between her and that wolf-looking dude that were supposed to be hot made me so sad for the both of them. He's clearly the gayest gay man alive, and her sex program's malfunctioned her whole damn life. Does she even get moist? Does she have a vagina or is there just a Barbie dent down there? Someone pour Noni juice on it. She's no Diahann.
Derrick from Philly
October 24 2007, 9:52AM
I give up. You don't like that girl.
loi wade
October 25 2007, 7:23PM
Now I remember why I haven't posted in almost a year. You people give me a headache, DAMN! For the record, Dean and Ron, black americans are NOT africans. We are the product of slavery and the DESCENDANTS of africans. Therefore Ms. Berry is as black as the rest of us. If we seperate ourselves based on that one drop rule, there would be no such thing as a black american.
loi wade
October 26 2007, 2:59AM
And two more things I just have to mention. One, every black man halle has ever dated either cheat on her or beat on her. I don't blame her for looking for love elsewhere. Two, for those of you hating on her acting ability, was I the only one who saw portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge?
Ruben
November 6 2007, 11:19AM
My question is WHY is David Duchovny casted as her husband?
Why was the biracial formula done altogether?
I understand casting the "black buddy" is to make the character seem more socially sophisticated and dare I say Hip / Cool (want to be seen as cool get you a Black or ethnic friend the more exotic the better) like the show "Felicity" but here what is the purpose?
David Duchovny is far from a big name since his "X-Files" days...
So as far as marketing that does not fully jive unless it is just to placate a cool / hip white demographic as well..I guess the target demographic a mixed 30-40 something hip / cool / socially sophisticated crowd with benicio making it bit cooler and more ethnic...
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