Ike

Author(s): Tony
Location: Pittsburgh

"Ike"

Written and Directed by Cameron Crowe
Editing by Joe Hutshing
Music by Nancy Wilson

Main Cast
Steve Buscemi as Ike Fraley
Robert Downey Jr as Drew Maddox
Greg Kinnear as Larry Posluszny
Carol Kane as Gloria Fraley
James Caan as Eddie McFadden
Jennifer Beals as Emily Maddox
Julie Delpy as Maura Posluszny
Brian Howe as Ricky
Harris Yulin as Ordesky

Tagline: "Sticky pads and violence, say hello to Ike"

Synopsis: Drew and Larry, two acclaimed authors and best friends, finding themselves at the bottom of the barrel with no pulse. Both living off the success of their work, Drew is known for his daring murder novels. He's been to every psych ward and prison to study the breaking point of human behavior. Larry writes more intellectual and compelling novels, using his mild manner and perfectionist attitude to use, creating gratifying and beautiful novels. Drew is a potty-mouth, caffeine addicted sex-a-holic with his wife Emily. An ego so high that he's been refusing to answer his phone calls from his father for decades, punishing him for believing he was too hard on him as a child. Larry struggles to find his sex spark, living a calm and cautious life with his wife Maura. With both men staring down at their repetitive lifestyle, they want change. Drew insist that they switch genres to create a reflecting and different biagraphical story. Scared at first was Larry, but daringly he agrees. While participating in a group therapy, Drew comes across a man that admits he has a problem, but is shallow about the things in his life he can't explain. Larry sits back to watch a one-on-one psychologist meeting with a man who believes that manic energy and silly violence is what lifts his spirits. Both find a target, except it's the same man, Ike. Surprising Drew and Larry, they decide to invite Ike to dinner to explain his condition. According to their judgment, Ike had a split personality. He would change conversations and dialect frequently, one being aggressive claiming he's killed, the other a soft spoken family man. With the information they have collected, they uncover the truth about Ike, and tell it to the world.They travel miles to where Ike onced lived and flashback into his life. Drew investigates the confused and affectionate Ike Fraley. Along with his quirky wife Gloria, a lazy house wife, they raised their two sons. He worked at a company that made sticky pads that paid enough to feed his family, there's a job for everything. Bored at first was Drew, until it was revealed that Ikes true kindness was donating small change to starving children, helping build drug rehab centers and shelters for the homeless, being a great role model for his kids. He even met Gloria when she was begging for change on the streets. Larry reaches an illegal underground gambling scene, led by Eddie McFadden. Accused of being a cop, knife to throat, Larry says Ike sent him, a hand shake was in order. Ike was their "eliminator" of people who didn't pay their dues. He made everyone around him feel in danger. Drew's introduced to a world of sex, gambling, drugs, and murder schemes, even to a high speed car chase. With both personalities having no recollection to the other, life was complicated for Ike, especially when Gloria had an affair with his best friend Ricky. Ike then tried to kill Ricky with a meat cleaver. His story has reflected on Drew and Larrys life drastically. Larry feels more secure with himself as Drew answers his phone. They never heard from Ike again.

What the Press would say:
The high-energy, thought provoking film that will be raved by critics this year is "Ike". Cameron Crowe brings a richly entertaining comedy drama that is a seamless blend of character study and development. His dialogue he creates and the awkward, yet realistic silences he directs into conversations make "Ike" another gem in Crowes career. Once again he creates another fleshly blend group of characters that ride the glory bus to recognition. Riding shotgun is Steve Buscemi, the lead character Ike. The role just sends shockwaves down your body seeing how scary good Buscemi pulls it off. He's a man of two personalities and two different lifestyles, Buscemi at times makes us believe it's a different actor, whether it's the high spirited heartwarming side that every person wants to be like, or the looney, deranged psychopath that every person doesn't want to be. A perfect role for Steve to show off his wide range of character. Riding in the back seat is Robert Downey Jr, one of Crowes characters we can fully understand in real life. We delve into his personal problems that aren't completely overwhelming but enough put a hurting on his emotions. Drews vendetta against his father can make you laugh but shed a tear at the same time, and it's due to Jrs acting. His final scene with the phone is breath taking. Sitting next to him is Greg Kinnear who is the complete opposite of Jrs role, which always makes for great chemistry. He's the guy you see at the grocery store bickering with his wife because the egg carton is flimsy. He's very uptight and precautous, but knows it's putting a drastic effect on his relationship and life in general. A very enduring character for Kinnear.Once Crowe introduces us to our main character, the rest of the film is a vaste majority of flashbacks that cover all the importance in Ikes past life, with Downey and Kinnear telling them through their writing from their encounters with the rest of this great ensemble. Not enough can be said about Ike, the film and character. One side of Ike left everything behind because of the harmful trauma he endured with his wife and her affair. The other Ike left everything behind because he's perhaps running from the law. But who really knows who Ike is, is he a drifter that moves from place to place? Perhaps he's a godsend to two guys down on their lives in Drew and Larry. When things get tough and just pointless, watching "Ike" the film makes you realize that there is some sort of beauty within every event in our lives.

FYC:
Best Picture - Cameron Crowe
Best Director - Cameron Crowe
Best Actor - Steve Buscemi
Best Supporting Actor - Robert Downey Jr
Best Supporting Actor - Greg Kinnear
Best Original Screenplay - Cameron Crowe
Best Film Editing - Joe Hutshing
Best Original Score - Nancy Wilson