  |
|
|
|
Steven Soderbergh's Bubble is a solid, sparse, indie Mystery/Crime Drama that's been overshadowed by its own production and distribution.
Often referred to as "experimental" because of its ultra low budget, casting, and simultaneous theatrical and DVD distribution, Steven Soderbergh's, Bubble (Official, IMDb) is a simple story of jealousy and desire gone wrong. Plot Spoiler WarningSet in a small Midwestern town, Bubble tells the story of a meek, middle-aged woman, Martha (Debbie Doebereiner), trapped in a life full of regrets. The only thing she has to hold on to is a daily routine that includes a conflicted mother/lover relationship with a much younger man, Kyle (Dustin Ashley). So when a pretty, young girl, Rose (Misty Wilkins), moves into their lives, everything she's been holding on to is threatened, and she is forced to finally react. Coleman Hough's screenplay (written by) is lean and focused, dropping us into a world that bores us to the point of screaming. But his lead characters, Martha, Kyle, and Rose, seem quite at home - especially in the doll factory setting. Martha, our older, meek lead is forced into the role of mother. She takes care of her aging father and works in the doll factory. She spends her evenings in a mundane, ambient world, sitting with her silent father and sewing outfits for the dolls. Her only outlet is Kyle, who she only wants to please, and her weekly church sermon, where she feels singularly divine. This is an unselfish life that wants only for attention. Kyle is your typical small town quiet kid; he works long hours and enjoys a beer and a joint between shifts. He's utterly harmless, letting life happen and never really being surprised by its twists and turns. Rose is trouble. Midwestern pretty and poor decisions have given her a baby far too early. So she floats through life, accustom to getting her way and taking advantage of the weaker folks. But her strengths are fading and so she must steal from those close to her to get by. When Martha does what Martha does: mother, Rose chastises her like a child, telling her to "just read your book." And so we are not surprised when Rose turns up dead. Although it is not her manipulating or thievery that gets her killed - it's her takeover of the only thing Martha cherishes: her own would-be content life. Hough's script is supported by some really fine (albeit lean) filmmaking. Lighting and editing do all that is needed to show us that Martha is slipping away from her reality. Static and fixed-pan shots are as lethargic as the town. And Robert Pollard's acoustic guitar has the feel of pure, longing loneliness. The doll factory is mesmerizing - simultaneously fascinating us and helping the script's family theme. What's awkward here is exactly what one would expect: the dialogue is hesitant and we sometimes feel the actors trying too hard not to notice the camera. But let's not forget that these are rookies in the true sense (for more on this, please read my Bubble blog.) At seventy-three minutes, Bubble is a refined indie that accomplishes exactly what it set out to do: tell this story. Bubble is the first of six films Soderbergh will produce and direct for HDNet Films that will be shot and released in the same fashion. He is also slated for Ocean's Thirteen and has wrapped on The Good German. Extras:
Production:
US Distribution:
Rhett's Bubble blog
The copyright of the article Soderbergh's Bubble in Independent Films is owned by Rhett Murphy. Permission to republish Soderbergh's Bubble in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
