Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

 

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot 2018

• Director: Gus Van Sant
• Seen by this director: Milk, Paris je t’aime, Good Will Hunting, My Own Private Idaho
• Based on book by John Callahan.
• Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, Jack Black, Udo Kier, Sunny Suljic
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Joaquin Phoenix – Joker, Two Lovers, Reservation Road, Walk the Line, Hotel Rwanda, Gladiator
• Jonah Hill – Hail Caesar, The Wolf of Wall Street, Django Unchained, The Invention of Lying
• Rooney Mara – Lion, Social Network
• Jack Black – The House with Clocks in Its Walls, Be Kind Rewind, Margot at the Wedding, Holiday, King Kong, Orange County, School of Rock, High Fidelity, Cradle Will Rock, Mars Attacks, Dead Man Walking, Waterworld
• Udo Kier – Iron Sky, Melancholia, Manderlay, Modigliani, Dogville, Dancer in the Dark, Breaking the Waves, Johnny Mnemonic, My Own Private Idaho
• Sunny Suljic – The House with Clocks in the Walls, Mid90s
• Why? The cast
• Seen: 6 September 2022      

       John Callahan (Phoenix) is an alcoholic whose life changes drastically when an accident puts him a wheelchair. Despite the damage to his hands, he becomes a renowned, if controversial, cartoonist. True story, well, truish.

       The film goes back to John’s wild ‘before’ life when he and his drinking buddy Dexter (Black) drink. And drink. And drink. Until Dexter crashes the car, leaves John paralysed from the chest down, and walks away without a scratch. We follow John through rehab, AA meetings, his continued drinking, his anger, and bitterness.

       It’s funny, non-sentimental (mostly) and filled with good supporting characters. Joaquin Phoenix is phenomenal.        

4* of 5