This Is Martin Bonner (2013)
Martin Bonner has just moved to Nevada from the East Coast, leaving behind his two adult children and a life he spent more than two decades building. He's there working a new job as the volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization that helps prisoners make the transition from incarceration to freedom. It's Martin's first job in two years and he's recently declared bankruptcy. At the same time, Travis Holloway, a prisoner in the program, is being released after serving twelve years. Sent back into the world with nothing, Travis also finds life in Reno difficult to adjust to, despite the help from his program sponsor, Steve Helms. The stories of Martin and Travis slowly converge, as the two men meet and find that they have much in common, not the least of which is an unspoken need for encouragement and support.
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After viewing writer and director Chad Hartigan's latest film "Morris From America", I went back to look at this 2013 movie of his. I'm very glad I did, as I found this indie to be a most wonderful and engaging movie, which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.The writing is impeccably sharp here, with the characters being vivid and real. Paul Eenhoom stars as Martin Bonner, who is working as a volunteer for a Christian outreach program specializing in helping recently released prisoners adjust to society again. Richmond Arquette co-stars as Travis Holloway, who has just finished serving a 12 year sentence for manslaughter (driving drunk), in a Nevada penitentiary. The film will focus on the bonding that will occur between the two men, as Travis attempts to get a new start to his life, and I thought both actors were superb in their roles.All in all, if you don't need an action flick to keep you happy and you like this type of character driven movie, then I can highly recommend this one.
No, "This Is Martin Bonner" doesn't have any space ships, murdering computers, murdering apes or 20-minute acid trips, but something about it reminds me of the epic 2001: A Space Odyssey. I think it's the way it approaches the concept of "god", like 2001, presenting the audience with a vision that each person may interpret in a different way."This Is Martin Bonner" is a seemingly uneventful 3 days in the lives of Martin Bonner, a Christian social worker who helps ex-convicts adjust to civilian life, and Travis, an ex-con who has just been released. There is a recurring religious angle that pops up occasionally (Martin Bonner was an ex priest who lost his faith), but it's presented in an objective way which allows us to see it the way we want to see it. It neither preaches nor bashes the Christian religion but instead takes us straight up the middle. Like 2001, it presents a powerful message that may be interpreted as spiritual or mundane, godly or existentialistically. But whichever way you take it, there *is* a message.It's hard to say anything more without injecting my own subjective spin, so I won't. I'll just say this is a slow-moving film with many pauses for reflection, many questions, many answers, and characters whom you generally like. There are no villains, no traditional conflicts other than those each character individually faces within his heart. There are certainly no car chases or shootouts, so if you're looking for that, this ain't the place. But if you're looking for a deep slice of life, then here it is.I would compare this to other quiet yet powerful films like "About Schmidt" with Jack Nicholson, Wim Wenders' "Paris Texas" and maybe the French "I've Loved You So Long". If you like films that touch on religious themes without coming on too strong in either direction, this fits right alongside the excellent "Sympathy for Delicious" (about a young priest and his faithless rockstar buddy) and "Into Temptation" (about a naïve priest trying to stop a prostitute's suicide).
This fine little flick is a quick drive-by look at or into a brief moment in another persons life.We never get a full background on any of the characters because the story just starts and then ends. What happens in between is one man, Bonner, driven to help others and never fully knowing if his efforts have actually helped.And another man,Travis, needing help and not fully knowing if he is capable of meeting its' challenges. He needs help due to his past! His daughter has a brief visit which only accentuates Travis's insecurity.I'm only giving seven stars because I don't feel enough character was given to Bonner to have just that name in the title. Travis actually plays the major role.
I'm not sure what to make of this film, it came across as very disjointed. The characters seemed very shallow and not really at all interesting or engaging. There were several scenes that seemed out of place or completely needless. Many scenes also seemed far too long and awkward. Honestly, it's a miracle I made it through the whole film and didn't turn it off. I kept hoping it would get better. Not so much. I am amazed this film is rated as high as it is. Cinematically, that camera work was nothing special. However, there were a few scenes where the camera work was distracting and also a few awkward slow-motion moments. The acting seemed very rigid, and not natural at all. It also seemed a bit preachy in spots, it appears that regurgitation of an agenda was more important than a dynamic story.