Keaton makes directing debut with `Unstrung Heroes'
Selma (Andie McDowell), Steven's mother, is stricken with a fatal illness that affects the whole household. Sid (John Turturo) slowly transforms from a carefree loving father into a strict authoritarian, as a result of his preoccupation with his dying wife's condition.
The tension in the household causes Steven to temporarily move in with his quirky uncles Danny (Michael Richards) and Arthur (Murray Chaykin), who not only care for him but also teach about life and Judaism. This phase of the movie provides comic relief as Danny exhibits paranoia about the government, his neighbors and the outside world. Arthur however, puts up with Danny's antics and faithfully takes care of Steven, whom they affectionately nickname Franz.
When Steven, influenced by his uncles, practices Judaism, his father protests and brings him back home. Upon Steven's return home, he discovers his mother's condition has worsened.
Unstrung Heroes stresses the importance of families sticking tog- ether and relying upon one another. Steven begins as a timid, unsure child but develops into a vital member of the family unit. We watch him cope with his mother's illness, deal with the craziness of his uncles and strengthen his religious bonds. We also watch the whole family structure change in response to Steven's new presence.
As a whole, this is definitely a movie we recommend seeing. If you like an emotional rollercoaster ride, this is far and away a movie you would like.
The characters are all really well- developed, and the writing is great.
However, if you're like Hrishikesh and prefer a faster-paced plot with a lot of action, this may not be your best choice.
This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the October 6, 1995 issue.
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