The Door in the Floor(2004)- User Reviews

When it comes to adapting a John Irving novel, almost immeditatly you can see how completely impossible a task it really is. Nearly every part of the book is inexpendable, colorful and woeful characters that you cannot get enough of. And a yarn that spans over the course of ten, sometimes fifty years. And of them all, the most impossible has to be A Widdow for One Year (which also happens to be my favorite Irving novel). Now you might think I am going into this already knowing I'm going to like it. Far from the truth. I'm worried that the filmmakers will either screw up or perhaps just miscalculate (something that's almost inevitable in filmmaking with this kind of material). But I'm pleased to say that The Door in the Floor does indeed deliver.

The story revolves around the Cole Family, Ted (Jeff Bridges in one of his best performances) is a children's writer with an uncanny heart for cruelty. Marion (Kim Bassenger) his wife of over 20 years who has been worn thin by tragedy and Ted's sly way of destroying her spirit. And then one summer, Ted decides to set up a "trial seperation" and bring in Eddie (Jon Foster) a 17-year-old boy to be his assistant (actually he has other uses for him, but you'll figure that out later). When we see Eddie, we realize that he looks strangely like one of The Cole's two dead sons, which spiral this tale to it's sadly surprising end.

This film is dark and sad for the most part, each character lives in a pit of their despair. Ted is the only one who has any kind of outlet, Marion and Eddie look to each other for some kind of means of lonliness. It's up to you to decide which one is more distasteful. I personally think it's Ted's. And that's because Jeff Bridges makes what Ted do, even slightly askew, almost look degrading and yet sensible. Ted is a monster, yet his velvet-gravel voice seem to win you back even as he sets up another way of beating you down again. Bassenger keeps toe to toe with Bridges, though they only have two scenes together in the entire movie. Her sadness has given over to something worse, and something that she cannot live with for any longer. And then there's young Eddie. What Foster does for this kid who can easily be another wallflower in the Hamptons is something silently admirable. He doesn't overplay Eddie, but allow others to be seen through him. A great scene that shows this is when he's returning pictures to Ted's Mistress (Mimi Rodgers).

Tod Williams is a gifted filmmaker. We can see this especially when he puts his actors up front. He uses simplicity as a tool and keeps his camera tight. Takes nuances and allows them to just be instead of taking focus. Who knows what to expect from this man on his next project? I'm quite interested in finding out.

All in all, The Door in the Floor is a wonderful film filled with characters that are smart and cunning, sometimes if not for their own good. And I'm sure John Irving can go to sleep tonight, as can his loyal fanbase, and know that at least one more of his stories have been left unblemished.