I was lucky enough to screen Mighty Fine this evening and have to say it was nothing like I had expected. Just watch the trailer to see what this movie is about.
This movie was very deep in sharing about mental illness, and letting the viewer see how a father/husband took his anger and rage issues out on his family. It was filled with a an amazing cast including Chazz Palminteri, Andi McDowell, Jodelle Ferland, and Andi's daughter, Rainey Qualley, who played the older sister. I have always been a fan of Chazz and Andi McDowell, but loved seeing Rainey Qualley and Jodelle Ferland in their roles as the daughters in this film. The entire cast did an amazing job in portraying their characters. I found myself feeling bad for the raging husband/father one minute, and then when he had an outburst, like in the pool scene with the gun, my empathy shifted to the daughters and wife, and I felt bad, thinking they were locked into this vicious cycle of physical and emotional abuse. I spent half the movie on the edge of my seat, wondering what would come of Chazz's character, and if the wife, played by Andi McDowell, would garner up enough strength to escape with her daughters before it was too late. I'll stop there, as I don't want to spoil the ending for you.
After the film, the other screeners and I were able to chat with and Chazz about the film. What a great opportunity this was. I loved seeing the actors up close and having them answer my questions. I was able to ask how she liked working with her mom, and enjoyed hearing her speak of the fun she had working with her. I will definitely be on the lookout for more screener opportunities like this, where you can watch the film and then chat with the actors afterwards, as it was so much fun. I feel the live chat clarified some of the questions viewers would have after viewing Mighty Fine, as well as hear from the actors about how they prepared for tough roles. One of the comments from the live chat that resonated with me was when Chazz said "You are a mirror to your kids. The way to you treat your wives, is the
way they will treat their wives. Be careful in how you act around
them" I totally agree with this, and have to make sure I hold my tongue
at times, now that I have young children. They truly mimic and absorb everything you say and do.
In regards to mental illness, I haven't experienced this personally with my family, but have some close friends whose parents had bipolar issues, and just hearing their childhood stories made me wonder why mental illness hasn't been brought out into the forefront more. It is taboo to speak of mental illness, and if one has it, many doctors solely medicate them, and let them go on their ways. But, many doctors and other medical professionals aren't taking into account the family members who deal with the emotional and sometimes physical abuse experienced by those close to those suffering from mental illness. It was nice to see a film like this, which will be shown on the big screen, beginning May 25th. I hope that it will stir up discussions among families, and maybe even give you hope if you are living in a home where mental illness is present, that things will get better, and that there are support services and treatment programs out there.
As I sit here writing this post, I am thinking about how powerful a film this was and one that is worth seeing. I hope you take the opportunity to take in this movie at a theater near you when it releases on May 25th. But, be warned, there is a lot of vulgar language used, so it would not be recommended to take young children with you. And, if you do see it, I would love to hear what you though of it. So, leave your comments below.
Disclosure: “I
participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for
Mighty Fine and the distributor. I received access to an online showing
of the film and a promotional item to thank me for participating”
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