CONFESSIONS (Tony of Pittsburgh)

Picture
Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by Peter Craig
Produced by Scott Rudin
Music by John Williams

Main Cast:

Liam Neeson as David Richard
Vincent Cassel as Geoffroy Babin
Kelly MacDonald as Lisa
Tommy Flanagan as Wallace
and
Tom Wilkinson as Phillip Richard

Tagline: "At our deepest end, we look for forgiveness at any cost."

Synopsis: Father David Richard sits in his weathered down arm chair with a bottle of Jack in one hand.  His rectory home becomes fuzzy to his eye, regret and sorrow begin to feed his emotion, an indication that it's nearly time for confession.  It's an average night; cheating wives, apostasy, drug abusers, until a man he's never seen before enters.  His voice trembles, hands are shaking, with the distinct smell of copper roaming through the booth.  Prior to this confession, Geoffroy Babin committed his third murder, a newly recruited hitman under the wing of the infamous crime boss, Wallace.  In a world he cannot escape, he looks to David for his comfort, while David contemplates his reaction.  This isn't the first time he's been torn whether to turn in a sick, depleted man or grant pardon as his duty requires.

Weeks go by as Geoffroy continues to visit confession, the body count increasing.  Despite being dangerous and unstable, David allows Geoffroy to become his scapegoat for his past regrets in his attempt to be the savior of his tormented existence.  While Wallace continues to be the puppet master of Geoffroys motivations, David decides it's time to interfere.  In Geoffroy's last attempt to break out of his world of violence, Wallace is on the hunt for the man who betrayed his wishes.  David allows Geoffroy to hide out in his rectory, creating a bond and trust that both men desperately craved, knowing it ensues the risk of their lives.  This also leads to Wallace's men targeting Geoffroy with threats and inflicting violence, a warning that he must continue to serve. In time, Geoffroy becomes infatuated with Lisa, a woman he became aquaintances with a short time before confession.  With the newly found inspiration that David finds from Geoffroy, he decides to confront his past by visiting his brother, Phillip, a former priest. in hopes of salvaging their broken relationship.  As he enters Phillip's one bedroom apartment, he notices the bottles of whisky placed throughout the room...a vibe he's too familiar with.  It was David that reported Phillip for his accused sexual encounters, a title which Phillip denies to this day.  A heated debate leads to bitterness and contempt, nothing is redeemed.  This occurrence makes David question his relationship with Geoffroy and how nothing can be saved. 

It isn't until David returns to his rectory to find Lisa and Geoffroy fondling each other.  Their rule was to never bring anyone here, whilst now Lisa's life is in danger.  He informs Geoffroy that he is through with the hiding and endangerment.  An outraged Geoffroy holds a gun to David's head, refusing to leave.  This is until Lisa holds a gun to Geoffroys head, an informant to Wallace.  At this time, Wallace and his men are informed of Geoffroys hideout and enter the rectory that results to David and Geoffroy fighting for their survival.  Geoffroy forces the gun from Lisa's hand as a hail of gunfire ensues under the cross that lingers upon them.  At the end, it is David that sees himself pointing a gun to the wounded Wallace.  He looks around at the blood and carnage and pulls the trigger.  With Geoffroy suffering from a gunshot wound, David's last attempt of forgiveness is to inform the police of Geoffroy's actions....thus turning himself in as an accomplice.

Press Section: David Cronenberg and Peter Craig team up to deliver one of more challenging, character driven films of the year.  What we have in "Confessions" is a poetic, visceral outlook that touches on the realms of our spiritial beliefs, our violent tendencies, and the grey matter implanted in all of us that makes us determine what is right and wrong and the consequences that follow.  The hints of symbolism between our spiritual world and reality are written with such great power and intensity, thanks to the work of Peter Craig.  Cronenberg is one of the few directors that uses his violence and exertion with intent and purpose and it is no different then in "Confessions."  The film keeps you on edge as we dabble into our two central characters physique and their surroundings, questioning their actions, thus worrying about the implications that each character are facing and are going to face.  The key to the films script is its subtly, those quiet moments to which the characters face terms with themselves within the dialogue and the beautiful captures that only Cronenberg can provide.  He then brings the intensity with his heart pounding scenes of peril and sensible violence.

Liam Neeson returns with his restrained, compelling mannerisms that made him the Oscar nominee that he is today.  Despite our conclusion, Neeson isn't the one holding the gun, but is looking up at the harrowing tip, both figurative and literally.  His morose, conflicted past involving his family ties have bring him to a state of panic, alcoholism, and remorse.  It is a performance that anyone who has ever been on the brink of destruction and depravity can relate to as he questions his faith that he's been devoted to all of his life.  In a way to redeem himself, he attempts to find solitude that he feels suits fit in his own mind and not power that he serves to.  It is an affectionate, sentimental performance that is sure to put him back on the map as one of Hollywood's most emotionally driven actors today.  His counterpart, Vincent Cassel, is equally impressive as the tormented hitman looking for redemption to steer away from his bloodthirsty troubled past.  Cassel is the type of actor that feeds on twisting our opinions and emotions relating to his character and this is no exception.  While his actions are admirable and often times peaceful, he gives us that vibe that this man is still dangerous and a ticking time bomb, as anyone who gets paid to murder would.  Starved for affection and comfort, we're hit hard by this vibe in the scene which David confronts him as the hard hitting Cassel lays out all the deeply hidden emotion and killer instinct.  Lastly, Tom Wilkinson plays the show stealer in a remotely small, yet unforgettable scene that rivals any constricted character piece we've seen.  In a world where our central characters have the choice either bring hope or cause harm to themselves, Phillip Richard doesn't have the choice.  The performance is a mixture of soft confinement and outlandish raw emotion to which the audience can only feel pity for this man, despite what he may or may not have done.  He shows us the life of a man who feels non-existent, nothing to the world, a cold and resentful soul that holds no bearings and feels only betrust and betray. 

"Confessions" is simply a study of human action, guilt, and more importantly how we search for reconciliation at no expense during our darkest times. 

Awards Consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director - David Cronenberg
Best Screenplay - Peter Craig
Best Actor - Liam Neeson
Best Supporting Actor - Vincent Cassel
Best Supporting Actor - Tom Wilkinson