The Corn's Even Higher, Unfortunately
"High Spirits," (1988), an English-American, comedy/romance co-production, comes relatively early in the career of Neil Jordan, Irish-born filmmaker. Still, it follows the superb, fully-adult Mona Lisa [DVD] [1986], and Jordan both wrote and directed it -- though he claims he was not allowed the final cut on it -- so he's gotta take the responsibility for it, seems to some of us.
The picture is nicely situated in Castle Dromore, Askeaton, Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland. It concerns an ancient castle, owned by Peter Plunkett, that's failing in his effort to make it into a hotel. So Plunkett, played by the wonderful Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia - Two Disc Set [DVD] [1962]) decides to advertise it as haunted, and drills his staff into their ghostly roles, without, apparently, quite realizing that the castle has ghosts enough as is. O'Toole is backed by a well-known cast, and even the supporting players' faces will be familiar to anyone who sees a lot of Irish films.
Liz Smith (A Private Function [DVD] [1984]) plays Mrs. Plunkett, Peter's mother; and the never-fail Ray McAnally (My Left Foot [DVD] [1989])plays his late father, to whom she reckons she is still married, as he shows up quite a bit; between them they steal every scene they are in. Steve Guttenberg plays second male lead, Jack Crawford: he's a mistake, he never was that good a comic actor. Beverly D'Angelo (National Lampoons European Vacation [UMD Mini for PSP] [1985]) plays his wife, Sharon Brogan Crawford: considering as director and leading lady met on this film, and had a thing for a while, the part's not very kind to her. Daryl Hannah (Roxanne [DVD] [1987]) is oddly miscast as ghost Mary Plunkett Brogan. Liam Neeson Taken [DVD] [2008])-- did he ever lay claim to comedy ?-- is overly made-up and coiffed as her ghostly husband, Martin Brogan; he keeps calling the noticeably tall, long-legged Hannah a "wee" harlot. Peter Gallagher, never really a good comic actor either, plays third male lead, Brother Tony, apparently soon to take his priestly vows. Jennifer Tilly, of the exotic half-Chinese looks and the distinctive voice, has little to do as Miranda, his love interest. Connie Booth, unforgettable as Polly in the British Broadcasting Company's everlastingly hilarious television series The Complete Fawlty Towers [1975] [DVD] -- she was married to its star/author John Cleese at the time -- has even less to do as Marge, married to this film's ghost-buster.
What interests me about the film is that it follows Jordan's pattern: men craving inappropriate love objects. The supposed-to-be-alive Guttenberg character falls in love with the supposed-to-be-dead Daryl Hannah character. The supposed- to-be-dead Liam Neeson character falls in love with the supposed-to-be-alive D'Angelo character(she must be a great-great niece or something). Gallagher's character falls in love with Tilley's character, and we know he shouldn't. Everybody has been encouraged to wildly overact, and a lot of scenery gets chewed, particularly by O'Toole. These actors have never turned in less-disciplined performances, and, frankly, the movie's a mess. (Aside to an IMdB reviewer: yes, I too saw a piece of essential, black "equipment" dangling near the rear of that white stallion).
|
