Christian Slater is an interesting actor. I know many write him off as a mini-me Nicholson, and all through his early career it was the same grinding voice, and 70s rebellion swapped for for grungy 90s cool. If you're going to choose one acting great to emulate, Nicholson is a great choice, but even with the bags of charisma Slater brought to the screen, he never seemed to lose that tag of impersonation. Never seemed to distinguish himself.

I think the last film I saw Slater in was a rather forgettable flick on Sky Plus, starring Time Allen as a hitman obsessed with movies. I can't remember the title and I vaguely remember there being a reasonably interesting hook to the whole thing, but other than that the only really interesting thing was Slater. I can't say I was blown away by his performance, I wasn't, but it didn't scream Nicholson at me, and most importantly, he seemed comfortable with his age; comfortable with not looking cool.

Quietman_trailer_letterbox

Now that's a surprise, right? Obviously you can't discern a complete performance from a trailer, but it certainly suggests an actor taking chances with his image and stretching himself performance wise. I'd heard about this a while back when it was gathering buzz at some of the indie festivals and when I read some reviews that came out of SXSW (South By South West) I was sold.

A man at the end of his emotional rope finally explodes, but not in a way anyone would have expected in this offbeat independent drama. Bob Maconel (Christian Slater) is a middle-aged nebbish working in an office building where few people know who he is and fewer still care. Bob has developed a seething hatred and resentment of those around him, and has taken to carrying a gun to work in the hope that one day he'll have the courage to take down some of his co-workers. However, one day another man working in the office snaps and opens fire; Bob grabs his weapon and kills the shooter, but not before the gunman wounds Vanessa (Elisha Cuthbert), a pretty girl who works there. Bob unwittingly becomes a hero, and is applauded for stopping the menace and saving Vanessa's life. However, as Bob keeps an eye on Vanessa at the hospital (where she may now be paralyzed for life), his sudden transformation in the eyes of others only leaves him more unsettled and disturbed.

Interesting synopsis from Fandango and though I'm seeing a bit of an oversell on the quirky, Sofia Coppola, Zach Braff vibe, it's a vibe I'm really happy with, if done right. I'm sure Slater has more depth than his earlier Brat Pack image suggested, and this is a great chance for him to gain exposure, especially if the growing buzz is capitalised on. Also interesting to see that Elisa Cuthbert is playing down her vapid, men's mag appeal. Not sure what kind of twist, if any, they're going to put into the film with her character, but on the strength of this trailer it's sure to be a good one.