This was a magnificent, gripping gem of a film. The setting of a small town in mid-America, late 50’s vintage is wonderfully conveyed, in both general look and feel and details. It starts, visually and stylistically, as a homage to The Twilight Zone - an old-school, small-screened TV flickers to life with a portentous voice introduction about how we are about to enter ‘Paradox Theatre’. This introductory commentary is wonderfully written -at once spoofing The Twilight Zone and its cosmic style and yet with enormous affection and admiration. we see a few scenes, briefly (at the very start, a couple of occasions during and the very end), as if watching on the television but these then morph into a modern cinema screen and size.
The script is excellent - very articulate and yet wholly convincing for the characters, particularly the two leads - the highly skilled radio DJ who changes himself, largely vocally, when he is live and on air and his female companion, the anxiously nerdy town switchboard operator with a new tape recorder which turns out to be of vital plot importance. Certainly at the start, the quantity of dialogue is remarkable ((subtitles sometimes not being up long enough to thoroughly read them all) but it is always wholly in character and, in spite of how much is said, there is no unnecessary padding. At the very start we learn a LOT about Mrs McBroom just from the few brief scenes she is in due the quality of the dialogue. And for this reason the running time is a highly commendable less than 90 minutes. Largely because of this high quality dialogue, we learn much of the main characters and so become very involved with their lives and they endear themselves to us. And this emotional involvement on the part of the viewer (we really care about these people) is a crucial ingredient not just in this particular film but for any convincing work of art, film and otherwise.
The time and place is excellently conveyed - some lovely ‘hip’ dialogue, particularly from the DJ ‘let’s bake biscuits’ etc etc which all sound both real and amusingly endearing and this leavens the tone which gives a marvellous contrast as we approach the climax and we realise just what is happening.
I said in the title heading that the film showed an almost complete cinematic mastery - -and this is true of all aspects. The script, as said, is masterly and the setting is wholly and lovingly convincing. We really do have a true sense of small-town 50’s USA - as fine as that achieved by American Graffiti - wonder if the directors will go on to have the career and impact of THAT director…
The soundtrack is exemplary - as it is sound (a mysterious crackle heard over the radio) that is the trigger for the events of the film and the use of other sound and music perfectly judged. The majority of the film as it takes place at night, is very dark although moments of full light (e.g. in the gymnasium at the basketball match) give excellent contrast -and it seemed to me that the quality of the light used there felt authentic for the lights at that time -not sure how true this is though; did indoor lighting at that time have a different quality to that which we have today?
The camera work was excellent - all shots just of the right angle and length to do what was necessary - and there was one spectacular lengthy tracking shot through the town that ranks with the all-time great tracking shots! It was I think a characteristic example of the filmmaker finding exactly the right shot for the right moment (this shot was marvellous not just for its technical flair and style but because it was exactly the right shot for that time in the story and at the same time, he was surreptitiously, perhaps paying homage to past masters, as he did in the nature of the story and format.
The story construction was masterful and the changes of tone superbly done. The crucial narration by one elderly character of a traumatic encounter in her earlier life that affected the rest of her life was very powerful and moving,(and perfectly and simply filmed with a virtually static camera) as was the incidental information first given to the protagonists a the radio call about secret jobs they were given by the Army -and the reason why (they were black) as if they did say anything about it, the chances were much more likely that they would not be believed, which would have been more likely were they white. This was a characteristically thoughtful and subtle way of building a picture of life in a particular time and place without being heavy handed and unsubtle.
The climax of the film was wonderful - it really did have something of the power (albeit on a smaller scale and in its own unique way, of Close Encounters and the final shots were both sad and satisfying as well as leaving many questions unanswered.
So, a wonderful film that must be seen by as many as possible.