The Merry Gentlemen (2008)
Synopsis
Merry Gentlemen by Michael Keaton is one such tragic drama which is self directed and self acted as well. Kate Frazier-Kelly MacDonald the lead woman focused on Claire’s character in the movie tries to get over an abusive relationship as she goes to Chicago to get on her feet, while she encounters a number of people within in range of other experiences one of them being Frank Logan Micheal Keaton, a depressed assassin who struggles with himself. This chance meeting that brings these two people together develops into a beautiful relationship between the two as they both fight their burdened past and seek forgiveness for their sins.
This quiet, slow-moving story tackles the issues of helplessness, hope, and how unlikely people can bond against the harsh cold Chicago as the weather presents. The patience required in watching the film’s plot and the characters are best rewarded to those who have the stamina to finish the movie.
Awards & Wins
‘The Merry Gentlemen’ may not have won top awards yet critics have pointed to the films performances and simplistic ideas as standouts. With the nature of the film being simplistic, the film is an aspect that was more enjoyed by the indie community than in main award ceremonies due to the fact that it was more like a diamond in the rough.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Michael Keaton (In hia directorial debut)
- Writers: Ron Lazzeretti
- Main Cast:
- Michael Keaton as Frank Logan
- Kelly Macdonald as Kate Frazier
- Tom Bastounes as Murcheson
- Bobby Cannavale as Michael Frazier
Michael Keaton’s first appearance in his director’s chair is that he makes great demands on the actors, clearly shooting Kelly Macdonald, who as Kate shows the audience both weak and strong women and eventually offers the unfinaled role.
IMDb Ratings
- IMDb Score: 6.4/10 (average of users’ votes)
According to the score, and the film is clearly targeted at moderately enthusiastic fans of slower paced dramatic films with decent depth of characters.
Personal Insights
It is a new role for Michael Keaton who portrays Frank Logan, but he doesn’t look out of place, showing the quiet depression of a man who is standing at the very edge of the immorality. Kate who appears in the film and is played by Kelly Macdonald is really a complex character who is dutifully the most emotional aspect of everything. Their chemistry while being understated is critical to the main ideas of the film, that is about destroying things and rebuilding them. They do seem to entice the audience towards the centre stages of the movie’s focus, not appealing to their egos. The speed of movement might be packed tempo for a couple of scenes for some viewers, nonetheless anybody that enjoys watching movies with deeper storylines wish to thank the filmmakers for their work.
The movie’s title, taken from the Christmas song “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”, is ironic in that neither of the protagonists looks very merry. However, their journey shows that even with a fragmented self, hope and rebirth are attainable.
Cultural Significance
Navigator films has produced less mainstream films that showcase how mood and character take precedence over more mainstream plot and action elements such as ‘The Merry Gentlemen’. It seeks to understand the fusion of human relations, particularly when a person is clasped by dualism of focus. Also, the film celebrates the growth of Michael Keaton as an actor and director with his new career beginning.
The Merry Gentlemen of Such viewers who expect in their drama both insightful and touchy, that is about redemption and close relationships with people, will find such in The Merry Gentlemen.