3rd Coast Digital Films Presents

Please distribute this URL as you see fit.

By Ted Baldwin

Arlington Road

Reviewed:11/26/99

FIVE POSSIBLE

Despite the fact I have not seen "The Green Mile, and the Talented Mr. Ripley is very deserving of Best Picture, I am selecting this as the best picture of 1999. (They should not release films at Christmas just to grab Oscars.)

This was the best dramatic film of the summer. Put simply, it played me like a fool from beginning to end. It is well crafted, gripping drama, and worthy of inclusion as one of the best films of the decade. In the distinguished traditions of "The Manchurian Candidate (1963)", "The Parallax View(1974)" and "Seven Days in May(1963)", Arlington Road takes us deep into the mechanics of conspiratorial terrorism, political extremism, and "true believers".

It is a powerful and compelling story about a man and his fears - and how those fears are played upon by kooks with bombs. Just remember, though, that kooks are not necessarily incompetent. Arlington Road deserves its place in our consciousness.

A man, played by Jeff Bridges, teaches anti-terrorism. His name is not important - just that he is an average professional man, with class-appropriate ideals, ambitions, and beliefs. Damaged a little, because he lost his FBI agent wife in a Ruby-Ridge like encounter with survivalists, he blames the government for her loss.

It is important to note that he is not anti-government - just fulfilling a watchdog role. He tries to be instructive about the dangers of fanatics, but also champions the rights of people to have and bear arms.

The story begins when Bridges finds a boy wandering the street - apparently burned in an explosion. He turns out to belong to the new neighbors, who are the epitome of nice. This starts a friendship - a personal relationship - based on the tragedy.

Teddy,
I just read your review of Arlington Road. I think you should have mentioned how we could only say "God DAMN that was a good film" for the next 45 minutes.

Ted's Moviepal

I like feedback on reviews. Considering that I wrote the review long after seeing the film, I forgot this tidbit. And this was why I thought it was a great film when I first saw it, and still do.
(with no disrespect meant to God)

As the son revcovers, and the neighbors insinuate themselves into Bridges life, things start not adding up - such as when their mail is delivered to Bridges' address by accident, bearing a return address that does not follow with what the neighbors are saying.

Subtle clues contradict the other things they tell Bridges, and he cannot help but investigate them. Why are they lying? What is the past this neighbor is trying to conceal? And how can he stop them?

The neighbor, delivered with farmboy insouciance by Tim Robbins, is a dead-on fanatic with a flawed exterior. The reality of his personality and dark crimes is leaking out through the cracks, though he seems to have a sincere belief in his cause. Moreover, he is determined to enlist the aid of Bridges - no matter what. And what it takes to get to Bridges is the overarching theme of Arlington Road.

Bridges' quest - finding the answers to these questions - sets the stage for the destruction of everything he has. His entire life, family, friends, lovers, and his past - go up in smoke.

That it could be anyone of us that hatred finds convenient is no reassurance. It makes us think.

It is a dangerous world out there for people with beliefs, but the truth is, only someone with beliefs has a chance.

Arlington Road challenges those in every way.

Website design and maintenance by

I N C O R P O R A T E D