CHRYSTAL (2005)

Directed by Ray McKinnon. Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Lisa Blount, Ray McKinnon, Harry Lennix, Walton Coggins, Grace Zabriske, Colin Fickes, Harry Dean Stanton, Johnny Galecki. Drama/Romance.

A story of a couple whose married life is ripped apart by an automobile accident that leaves her injured, their child dead, and him in jail for years. Upon his release, he surprisingly returns home to rebuild his life and, hopefully, hers, but they both find that as  much as things change, they remain the same.

This one goes under the header of quality small budget movies that are character driven, based on a good story, good script, and well directed. It reminded me in feel and texture from the opening credits of The Badge, which isn't surprising when you consider that two of the stars in this one (Thornton, McKinnon) had major roles in The Badge, plus McKinnon directed this one, as well.

The story is set in the Ozark mountain region of Arkansas, and begins with a long haired (and presumably younger) Joe (Thornton) driving very fast along the winding mountain roads with his wife Chrystal (Lisa Blount) and young son in the car. A horrible accident occurs as the car careens off the road and we see Chrystal laying motionless after being thrown from the car, and the young boy standing apart from the scene, watching quietly, with no hint of emotion.

The film cuts abruptly to a scene where Chrystal is giving sexual favors to a young man in the back seat of an old car. We see Joe striding up the road and only later do we learn that he has been in prison for twenty years. (Note of warning: the movie progresses for a good 4-5 minutes before there is any dialogue. There is nothing wrong with your DVD player)  

The relationship between Joe and Chrystal is odd, to say the least, as there is little communication between the two of them until late into the picture. We learn from conversations with other characters that Chrystal is well educated and well read for her group of peers, might have some mental stability issues as she believes she is carrying a child in her neck, and never got around to divorcing Joe. (We also get the impression that Joe didn't bother to tell Chrystal that he was being released...or coming home)

We also learn that, while in prison, Joe tried several times to escape, would be known to yell for his release to go look for his son, and used to be a premier marijuana dealer in the area. Oh, and one more thing to whet the appetites of those who have not seen the film: the body of their son was never found nor was any trace of him ever recovered.

As Joe is trying to re-acclimate himself to life on the outside, while sleeping on Chrystal's porch and hanging out with her ne'er do well cousin Larry (Walton Coggins), he is approached by the current big wig in town, at least in the area of drug running (and possibly using), Snake (McKinnon). There is an undefined but palpable history and tension between Joe and Snake and Snake makes it clear to Joe that he is not to resume is marijuana growing habits...unless, of course, he agrees to do it for the entrepreneurial Snake. Let's just say that the two don't have a warm fuzzy for each other, but things don't boil over until Snake insults the honor of Chrystal, who apparently "got around" quite a bit when Joe was in jail.

An interesting sidebar to the story is the presence of Kalid (Harry Lennix) a blind music professor from Chicago who, let's say, sticks out in the Ozarks. He is there to do a study on folk music in the region, having an old friend in Chrystal's grandfather, Pa Da (Harry Dean Stanton). Chrystal and Harry meet and its clear that Chrystal has an interest in Harry, though she remains, in her own way, committed to Joe.

There are other interesting characters in the film who help weave the fabric of the movie. Colin Fickes is lovable and funny as the good natured Hog, and Grace Zabriskie hits a homer with her portrayal of Chrystal's mother, Gladys.

This is a very good drama that almost disguises the fact that it is really trying to be a romance. Without spoiling it, don't think you are going to see the classic boy meets girl/boy loses girl/boy gets girl theme. Well, its there, but there is a twist on the ending of that theme which makes for a very good ending for the film.

I've only been to the Ozark region once, and even then not as deep into it as the setting of this film (I guess I was in what you would call the tourist part), but I would be stunned if it was not filmed on location. McKinnon, in addition to doing a fine job as the evil Snake, also directs the movie in fine fashion, not spoon feeding us anything, leaving the appropriate things open for our own interpretation, but giving us what we need to make that determination. If that is not enough, he also wrote the screenplay.

As you might guess, the cast is, overall, excellent with Blount (McKinnon's wife) giving an amazing performance. And, for anyone who is a Billy Bob Thornton fan (c'mon, aren't we all), you need to get this one asap.

Negatives? None that I can think of, unless you are just not into something so character driven and so region specific. Oh, and there are no special features on the DVD.

That's a shame. The features, like the movie, would have been excellent.