Fairhaven (2012)
Cast includes: Tom O’Brien (The Next Karate Kid), Rich Sommer (Mad Men), Chris Messina (Argo), Sarah Paulson (Game Change), Alexie Gilmore (Definitely, Maybe)
Writer/Director: Tom O’Brien (First feature film)
Genre: Drama (81 minutes)
Sunrise is gorgeous in the harbor when the Mandy Lynn comes in, but it’s damn cold and Jon’s not planning to be a fisherman his whole life. He still hangs out with Sam, one of his best friends from high school. Now it looks like his other best friend, Dave, is going to be back in town for his father’s funeral. “What d’ya mean, you’re gonna quit the boat?” Jon’s mom asks when he tells her his plan to become a writer. “Ya know, the basement’s rented.” Maybe it’s just tough love… and speaking of love, Mom would love to see her son find someone he really cares for. Anyway, Jon catches the tail end of Angela’s self-awareness class… the “chicken dance” and the “chain gang”… “there’s so much love in here.” Angela’s “students” all love her, but honestly, Jon finds it all a bit strange. Still…. “Do you meditate?” she asks him. “Do you wannna try it now?” Jon’s new to the meditation thing… “Close your eyes… you’ve got to be totally honest.” If Jon’s totally honest, he’s very attracted to Angela. “This connection is great,” she says… “But it doesn’t always have to be sexual.” Although…
“It’s cold as fucking hell,” says Dave when he arrives. “That’s because you’re used to Vegas,” says Jon. Dave isn’t in Vegas anymore. Now he’s in Phoenix. They haven’t talked in 4 years, so how’s Jon supposed to keep up? After sharing some of “Arizona’s Best” (weed), the two head over to Sam’s office. Sam’s kind of the grownup of the trio… a real job, a kid and an ex-wife. Anyway, Dave won’t be here for long, so they have a lot of catching up to do… a lot of drinking, smoking, picking up women, hanging out… and sharing confessions they probably shouldn’t have shared.
We soon learn that Dave had a rough relationship with his dad. And while he might not see it, his relationship with his mom isn’t great either. Jon used to be the quarterback on the high school football team… and so far, that just could be the highlight of his life. Sam enjoys being a dad. “Sure, I enjoy being a father.” (But is there anything else to look forward to?)
Fairhaven does an excellent job of putting us into the aimless, unfocused 2-day wonderings of three best friends from high school. Dave can’t wait to escape again. “This town… it’s really beautiful from far away.” We suspect Dave’s life in Phoenix… “maybe I’ll move back to Vegas”… is another unfocused mess. The filmmakers could have told a story that went somewhere… there are clearly story lines that start to develop. But they chose to keep it real… leaving it to us to decide where we think the individual story lines go. Dave’s homecoming has triggered some painful self-reflection. After high schools they drifted apart, and Jon thinks it’s Dave’s fault. “I didn’t know where to find you.” Dave has a lot to figure out, but he knows one thing. “You still don’t know where to find me.”
3 popped kernels
A couple of days with three best friends from high school… self-reflection can be uncomfortable
Popcorn Profile
Rated: NR
Audience: Young adults
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Sober
Tempo: In no hurry
Visual Style: Unvarnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
