Ceremony

Ceremony has a delightfully home-made feel, if you make your dad is the Fonz. For a debut film, Max Winkler displays complete confidence in his work - perhaps too much, because Wes Anderson he’s not. In some ways, Ceremony is reminiscent of The Royal Tennenbaums; rather unlikeable characters from the upper middle class, disparaging of their class, full of self-importance and perceived achievement, in love with the wrong person and out for his- or herself.

So why see it? You could be a friend of the Winkler family, or maybe you also hold Uma Thurman on a pedestal. Maybe you’re interested in debut films from up and coming directors. Maybe you’re obsessed with Lee Pace (who, me?). Perhaps you followed the project while Jesse Eisenberg was attached to play the lead role of Sam Davis. Eisenberg would have been interesting, and I have no doubt Michael Angarano would have been a great Marshall (as he was originally cast). That’s not to say that Angarano doesn’t do Sam justice. Even so, I’m not sure I believe Zoe (Thurman) would ever give his adorably sad-puppy face a shot. There is, however, a scene in which it rather seems that Whit (Pace) is willing to do so...

It seems that Winkler was inspired by Ferris Bueller, The Graduate, and the films of Wes Anderson, but the chemistry among the cast is so far off that it’s hard for the elements to gel. One gets the sense that Angarano is playing against type, Whit should be more of a cad, and Reece Thompson alternates between playing Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Kenneth from 30 Rock. I also have to wonder how Winkler managed to snag Thurman as his leading lady. Is it just for her height? Thurman hasn’t had a vulnerable side since The Truth About Cats and Dogs; where is Zoe’s need for Sam? I will grant Winkler this: it’s a bold and confident first move. And look at Jason Reitman. Son of a famous director whose first film, Thank You For Smoking, put him on the map, but it was Juno that made him a household name. What I mean to say is this: I’ve got my eye on you, Winkler. Best of luck on your next project.