Welcome back for another edition of A Second Look with Jeff Stockton! In this segment I will take a "second look" at a past LRF release with a fresh set of eyes.
With Josh Harnett headlining the new thriller The House Down the Street and Jack Ryder having a new film out last round, I decided to take the opportunity to look at Season 3's Pudd'nhead Wilson - written by Ryder and featuring Hartnett in a supporting role.
Pudd'nhead Wilson was an early film for writer Jack Ryder, and just his second adaptation, premiering in Season 3. It's a bit difficult to remember my exact thoughts on the film since it was 28 seasons ago, but I remember it being decent, not spectacular, and a bit clunky with some its casting choices and tone (which I recall ranging from quirky humor to serious drama).
Taking a second look now, I have a much clearer picture of my original thoughts. The story itself was a timely choice to adapt, and obviously Mark Twain knew how to tell a story, so I can see why Jack Ryder went with it for an adaptation. The highlights of the cast are Martin Freeman (giving a strong every-man performance), Ashton Kutcher (giving a surprisingly effective cruel and petulant performance), and Julianne Moore (who basically steals every scene she's in). All that said, a lot of the cast's strong work is weakened by Matthew Bomer's poor performance as Chambers, arguably the most important role. I also felt that Ava DuVernay was too safe and predictable of a choice as director. She doesn't ruin the film, but she didn't elevate it either.
At the end of the day, I would say Pudd'nhead Wilson is not a bad film, but it wasn't as good as it could have been (and not quite as good as I recalled).
Original Grade: C+
New Grade: C-
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