June 26, 2024
FILM: DADDIO
DIRECTED BY: CHRISTY HALL
STARRING: DAKOTA JOHNSON, SEAN PENN
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Two characters. One night. In a cab. That is the setting and premise for the new film Daddio. If that immediately turns you off because you think it will be a complete bore, you probably shouldn’t view this one. However, if you want to experience two actors at the very top of their games delivering very human dialogue that feels genuine and moving, then without a doubt see Daddio.
For 101 minutes, we get to know two people who are both wounded but also strong enough to keep pushing through the challenges of life. Dakota Johnson plays a woman who has just gotten off a plane at JFK in New York. She takes the next available cab like any of us would do in that situation. She looks around the cab and out the window. She is clearly contemplating something. We are slowly given glimpses of the driver, played by Sean Penn, and a conversation between them begins. Given that Penn is much older than Johnson as he looks at her through the rearview window it’s hard not to wonder if this story is going to take us somewhere creepy we might not want to go. Similarly, there are moments when we might question if Johnson is flirting with Penn. These are the expectations we often have of a Hollywood movie featuring a beautiful younger actress and a grizzled older actor. But Daddio goes in a much deeper and less narratively conventional direction than all that.
Both characters reveal bits about themselves during their initial discussions about money, credit cards, cell phones, and apps. Penn might not like technological progress but he’s a pretty open-minded guy. Johnson is surprisingly open herself by even having some conversation with this man. Perhaps the exchange is a nice diversion from whatever is going on in her head and from whomever the person is that keeps pestering her in a sexually explicit way via text messages.
A highway accident ahead of them keeps them stalled for an extended period of time and although it’s a bit frustrating that we don’t see much of what is happening outside the car, this gives the characters more time to talk and get to know each other. They discuss ones and zeroes, relationships, and the psychology of men. It’s a very interesting talk even if it is hard to imagine something like this actually happening. More likely, such a passenger would remain glued to their phone. But then, there wouldn’t be a film here.
What develops is a highly human set of philosophical and personal observations. While we pretty much remain with them for the entire duration of their car trip it is what they say and how the actors relate to each other that really makes the film special. Both of them offer a master class in listening. Their responses to each other feel pure and not at all forced. Camera close-ups and extreme close-ups capture their expressions and both actors are clearly expert and subtle communicators. It is hard not to feel what they are offering us. Penn’s character is compassionate, wise, and deeper than he looks. Johnson is warm and friendly but far from a pushover. Both actors have ranges that are put to the test here and neither ever overplays a moment. They are the reason to see the film.
Aside from them, their individual characters’ backgrounds are interesting and where they are at in life is also significant. It would almost seem they were destined to be in this cab together at just the right time.
Are there major thematic revelations here? Not really. Is there any action? Except for driving, not at all. This is a film about two people meeting and sharing parts of themselves that they may never reveal to anyone else. That is also what makes the film so unique. We are living in an era where multiplexes primarily screen action oriented super hero movies and pretty sanitized animated features. This is about two people. Period. That is the audience for Daddio. People who want to see films about people. To quote a classic Barbra Streisand song: “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” We are that much more fortunate to have this moment in time with them.
Daddio opens theatrically this week.
FILM: DADDIO
DIRECTED BY: CHRISTY HALL
STARRING: DAKOTA JOHNSON, SEAN PENN
RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Two characters. One night. In a cab. That is the setting and premise for the new film Daddio. If that immediately turns you off because you think it will be a complete bore, you probably shouldn’t view this one. However, if you want to experience two actors at the very top of their games delivering very human dialogue that feels genuine and moving, then without a doubt see Daddio.
For 101 minutes, we get to know two people who are both wounded but also strong enough to keep pushing through the challenges of life. Dakota Johnson plays a woman who has just gotten off a plane at JFK in New York. She takes the next available cab like any of us would do in that situation. She looks around the cab and out the window. She is clearly contemplating something. We are slowly given glimpses of the driver, played by Sean Penn, and a conversation between them begins. Given that Penn is much older than Johnson as he looks at her through the rearview window it’s hard not to wonder if this story is going to take us somewhere creepy we might not want to go. Similarly, there are moments when we might question if Johnson is flirting with Penn. These are the expectations we often have of a Hollywood movie featuring a beautiful younger actress and a grizzled older actor. But Daddio goes in a much deeper and less narratively conventional direction than all that.
Both characters reveal bits about themselves during their initial discussions about money, credit cards, cell phones, and apps. Penn might not like technological progress but he’s a pretty open-minded guy. Johnson is surprisingly open herself by even having some conversation with this man. Perhaps the exchange is a nice diversion from whatever is going on in her head and from whomever the person is that keeps pestering her in a sexually explicit way via text messages.
A highway accident ahead of them keeps them stalled for an extended period of time and although it’s a bit frustrating that we don’t see much of what is happening outside the car, this gives the characters more time to talk and get to know each other. They discuss ones and zeroes, relationships, and the psychology of men. It’s a very interesting talk even if it is hard to imagine something like this actually happening. More likely, such a passenger would remain glued to their phone. But then, there wouldn’t be a film here.
What develops is a highly human set of philosophical and personal observations. While we pretty much remain with them for the entire duration of their car trip it is what they say and how the actors relate to each other that really makes the film special. Both of them offer a master class in listening. Their responses to each other feel pure and not at all forced. Camera close-ups and extreme close-ups capture their expressions and both actors are clearly expert and subtle communicators. It is hard not to feel what they are offering us. Penn’s character is compassionate, wise, and deeper than he looks. Johnson is warm and friendly but far from a pushover. Both actors have ranges that are put to the test here and neither ever overplays a moment. They are the reason to see the film.
Aside from them, their individual characters’ backgrounds are interesting and where they are at in life is also significant. It would almost seem they were destined to be in this cab together at just the right time.
Are there major thematic revelations here? Not really. Is there any action? Except for driving, not at all. This is a film about two people meeting and sharing parts of themselves that they may never reveal to anyone else. That is also what makes the film so unique. We are living in an era where multiplexes primarily screen action oriented super hero movies and pretty sanitized animated features. This is about two people. Period. That is the audience for Daddio. People who want to see films about people. To quote a classic Barbra Streisand song: “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” We are that much more fortunate to have this moment in time with them.
Daddio opens theatrically this week.