Edmond

Will Macy is the man - vatta ore the performance only.

Starring as 'Edmond', a man who finally loses his marbles on the face of 47 years of carrying the burden of tolerance, being a dedicated working professional and a dutiful husband. I empathise with the fellow.

After a rather unpleasant meeting with a tarot card reader, he meets a fellow disgruntled middle-aged man at a bar who tells him: "There's too much pressure on us. A man's got to get out. A man has got to get away from himself". He further elaborates: "Pussy, Pussy. Power, money, adventure. I think that's it. Self-destruction. I think that's it."

The man (Joe Mantegna) at the bar also talks about how the 'niggers' have it easy - "I don't blame them because they behave like animals - I would do the same if I were one".

I think thats when the marbles finally start pouring out of Edmond's head. After telling his wife that he has not been "sexually and spiritually attracted" to her for "many many years", he heads off to discover the truth.

Series of events subsequently pushes Edmond into the vortex of anger & hate. He does break free from the shackles of society and feels increasingly closer to the truth - albeit in a demented, racist sort of a way. He keeps rambling & spouting his views on everything - "Every fear hides a wish" is the central one.

The film definitely draws comparisons with 'Falling Down'; but there Michael Douglas attempts to bring down the entire system, while here Will Macy's interactions are on a personal level. One day this movie would be rated as a classic - in much the same vein as one sees 'Taxi Driver', 'Midnight Cowboy' today.

Rating: * * *