May 13, 2023
FILM: LINOLEUM
DIRECTED BY: COLIN WEST
STARRING: JIM GAFFIGAN, RHEA SEEHORN
RATING: 3 stars out of 4
By Dan Pal
Linoleum is the kind of film that will likely benefit from more than one viewing. That’s not necessarily a good thing if the story elements don’t hold up. Since I’ve only seen the film once I can only imagine how different a second experience might be. Will such an additional viewing be necessary? No, but I’d welcome it.
The film stars comedian Jim Gaffigan and Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn as Cameron and Erin Edwin, a husband and wife residing in Fairview Heights Ohio during an unspecified era. Cameron is a host of a children’s science show. Erin works for a science institute and occasionally makes appearances on the show. It’s a familiar looking series that we’ve seen many times over the years filled with gadgets and scientific lessons for kids. One day a car falls from the sky outside Cameron’s home. The driver looks like a more conservative version of Cameron who then turns up and is offered Cameron’s hosting gig at the local TV station. Cameron is distraught as he is already dealing with a family member struggling with Alzheimer’s.
To say more would spoil the film’s very intricate plot. Suffice to say, I saw this film at a film festival a few months back and both Gaffigan and Seehorn were present. Seehorn warned the audience that this is, in part, a film about Alzheimer’s and memory loss and that anything that seems strange and confusing in the film is meant to be that way as we’re taken into the mindset of at least one of the characters. If she hadn’t revealed this fact, I think a lot of us attending the screening may have, in fact, been quite confused during the film as the narrative moves in and out of different senses of reality. This is also not necessarily a bad thing as films such as Christopher Nolan’s Memento and Charlie Kaufman’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind created brilliantly fascinating visual memory issues on screen. I wouldn’t say that Linoleum is at the same level but there certainly is an ambitious idea present here. (Don’t worry, the final 15 minutes reveals all.)
The film has a lot going for it, especially the leads. Gaffigan gets to play two characters, one of which is dark and serious while the other may be more familiar to the actor’s fans. Seehorn is enjoyable in her role that does stretch her a bit from Kim Wexler on Better Call Saul. There other actors that are also very good here, including cameo parts from Tony Shalhoub and Michael Ian Black.
Given the phones with cords and videotapes present in the film, it’s clear the setting isn’t the 21st Century. As such, the production designers have done a nice job of employing props and costumes that reflect earlier eras. One element I missed while watching the film but that came up in a Q & A following the screening is the use of linoleum throughout the film. Keep that in mind if you view the film for it connects several strands relevant to the narrative.
Linoleum is billed as a comedy, drama, and science fiction genre film. The conventions of each of these are clearly present. It is fun to experience some of the science stuff even if you’re not a sci fi fan. It’s important to re-emphasize though that this is a film about memory and memory loss. As such one needs to be flexible to the somewhat open-ended narrative. Theories will emerge and content will be debated. Isn’t that one of the great joys of movies?
Linoleum is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime.
FILM: LINOLEUM
DIRECTED BY: COLIN WEST
STARRING: JIM GAFFIGAN, RHEA SEEHORN
RATING: 3 stars out of 4
By Dan Pal
Linoleum is the kind of film that will likely benefit from more than one viewing. That’s not necessarily a good thing if the story elements don’t hold up. Since I’ve only seen the film once I can only imagine how different a second experience might be. Will such an additional viewing be necessary? No, but I’d welcome it.
The film stars comedian Jim Gaffigan and Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn as Cameron and Erin Edwin, a husband and wife residing in Fairview Heights Ohio during an unspecified era. Cameron is a host of a children’s science show. Erin works for a science institute and occasionally makes appearances on the show. It’s a familiar looking series that we’ve seen many times over the years filled with gadgets and scientific lessons for kids. One day a car falls from the sky outside Cameron’s home. The driver looks like a more conservative version of Cameron who then turns up and is offered Cameron’s hosting gig at the local TV station. Cameron is distraught as he is already dealing with a family member struggling with Alzheimer’s.
To say more would spoil the film’s very intricate plot. Suffice to say, I saw this film at a film festival a few months back and both Gaffigan and Seehorn were present. Seehorn warned the audience that this is, in part, a film about Alzheimer’s and memory loss and that anything that seems strange and confusing in the film is meant to be that way as we’re taken into the mindset of at least one of the characters. If she hadn’t revealed this fact, I think a lot of us attending the screening may have, in fact, been quite confused during the film as the narrative moves in and out of different senses of reality. This is also not necessarily a bad thing as films such as Christopher Nolan’s Memento and Charlie Kaufman’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind created brilliantly fascinating visual memory issues on screen. I wouldn’t say that Linoleum is at the same level but there certainly is an ambitious idea present here. (Don’t worry, the final 15 minutes reveals all.)
The film has a lot going for it, especially the leads. Gaffigan gets to play two characters, one of which is dark and serious while the other may be more familiar to the actor’s fans. Seehorn is enjoyable in her role that does stretch her a bit from Kim Wexler on Better Call Saul. There other actors that are also very good here, including cameo parts from Tony Shalhoub and Michael Ian Black.
Given the phones with cords and videotapes present in the film, it’s clear the setting isn’t the 21st Century. As such, the production designers have done a nice job of employing props and costumes that reflect earlier eras. One element I missed while watching the film but that came up in a Q & A following the screening is the use of linoleum throughout the film. Keep that in mind if you view the film for it connects several strands relevant to the narrative.
Linoleum is billed as a comedy, drama, and science fiction genre film. The conventions of each of these are clearly present. It is fun to experience some of the science stuff even if you’re not a sci fi fan. It’s important to re-emphasize though that this is a film about memory and memory loss. As such one needs to be flexible to the somewhat open-ended narrative. Theories will emerge and content will be debated. Isn’t that one of the great joys of movies?
Linoleum is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime.