Margaret Review
By David Kempler
Wake Up Maggie
"Margaret" is a total mess that is all over the place. Rumors abound that Kenneth Lonergan's post-production was marred by lawsuits and multiple producers and all sorts of other issues that ground the whole thing into hamburger meat. However, as disjointed as it is, it contains some moments that capture you and make you sit up and pay attention, and I remain not entirely certain as to whether the final product is worth recommending.
There are name actors littered throughout the cast. Matthew Broderick, Kieran Culkin, Allison Janney, Jean Reno, Mark Ruffalo, and in the lead, Anna Paquin. Lisa (Ms. Paquin) is an uber-spoiled, self-centered teen of the highest order. Lisa wants to buy a cowboy hat but can't find a place in Manhattan to purchase one. As she walks down the street, a bus drifts by slowly. The bus driver, Maretti (Mark Ruffalo), is wearing a cowboy hat. Lisa tries to get his attention to ask him where he got it, but he thinks she is flirting with him through the doors, and he flirts back. His inattention causes him to run a red light and run over and kill a lady (Allison Janney).
This tragedy sends Lisa on what she believes is a path of doing the right thing and self-discovery. It doesn't, because Lisa is incapable of real human emotion. I suppose that is the point, but because "Margaret" is so all-over-the-place, I'm not entirely sure. The scenes where you realize she is vapid are the ones that work best.
While "Margaret" in total is haphazard, uneven, and inconsistent, it still provides enough for me to recommend. Barely. Most importantly, I truly detested the character of Lisa, and that means that Ms. Paquin did a great job. It does give me pause, though, to wonder if somewhere in this unevenness, lived a possible great movie. No way to know.
