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Is it worth $10? Yes
You read it right. The title of this movie is “Answers to Nothing.” And if you’re like me, you can’t help but think that with a title this artsy and pretentious, the movie better be darn good. It is.
The film involves several people in Los Angeles whose lives intersect in various ways. But rather than be a preachy and heavy-handed film on racism, like 2005’s L.A.-set Best Picture winner “Crash,” there is no central theme or conflict. “Answers to Nothing” is a character study.
The closest this film comes to a central conflict is the case of a missing 11 year old girl. Her disappearance involves an LAPD detective named Frankie (Julie Benz), who is investigating the case, as well as Carter (Mark Kelly), who is following it on TV and has his suspicions about the girl’s neighbor Beckworth (Greg Germann). Carter also plays games online where he rescues princesses. It’s only a matter of time before his fantasy spills into reality.
Even though the film is not about race, it does play a part in the life of Allegra (Kali Hawk). She’s a black person who hates black people. In one scene, she’s at work sitting at a table and she’s surrounded by white people. One of them tells a potentially racist story and asks her if she finds it offensive. Her response is one of the most refreshingly original and inspired bits of dialogue I’ve heard in a long time. Credit has to be given to director/writer Matthew Leutwyler and his co-writer Gillian Vigman for having the bravery to put those words in her mouth. And of course to Kali Hawk for saying them.
“Answers to Nothing” is also notable because one of the stars is comedian Dane Cook, who plays Ryan. He’s an interesting choice, playing a man who is Allegra’s psychiatrist (she works out her hate issues with him), and who is also cheating on his wife with a young rock singer named Tara (Aja Volkman). His mother is played by Barbara Hershey, a well-season and very talented actress.
Cook’s big test as a serious dramatic actor comes in the scenes with Hershey, where he discusses his relationship with her as well as his absentee father. To his credit, he holds his own with Hershey, who is playing sad and vulnerable to his forceful and bluntly honest. Even though on the surface Cook puts on a good show, he still needs some time to ripen as an actor. It’s long been noted that there are two types of actors: ones where you can tell they’re thinking and ones who are all surface and mechanical. Cook falls into the latter category, but he doesn’t have to stay there. I’ve seen his stand up and I know he is a smart guy who can really deliver a great performance when he fully commits and dives in. I’d like to see him in another dramatic role where he really goes for it—both inside and out.
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