Somebody give Mr. Balaban some money

Bernard and Doris (2007)

Directed by: Bob Balaban
Writing credits: Hugh Costello

I must be on some kind of Bob Balaban kick lately. Either that or he’s making one heck of a comeback. But comeback isn’t really the right word since he never really went anywhere. A lot of people are not going to be familiar with him since he’s one of those in the background types and is now directing and has some minor roles. He’s not known to many as a big star, but what he does is quality work. He also takes chances and I hope someone in Hollywood recognizes his contributions and gives him a lot of money to do anything he wants—the guy is one major talent who, in my opinion, has never been recognized.

“Bernard & Doris” is the story of heiress Doris Duke and her gay butler, Bernard Lafferty. Laffery is played excellently by Ralph Finnes and Duke by Susan Sarandon. Major fan page to come for her later.

Duke lived from 1912 to 1993 and was the tobacco heiress to a vast fortune. While she put her money to great charity uses, she also drank a lot and caroused with any and everyone. This movie only scrapes the surface of her, and I’ve looked for books on her life and found only a pittance of what there should be. That Balaban has brought her to our attention again is great. Duke is mercurial as can be, and we’re given glimpses of her great generosity followed almost immediately by her bi-polar-like negativity and cruelty. One moment she’s giving Lafferty an expensive kimono, the next she’s chewing him out because her orchids have not been attended properly. If you want to see a co-dependent relationship at work, watch this movie.

Both Duke and Lafferty have their own substance abuse problems and Bernard, who has been on the wagon for a while, falls off when he sees her wine cellar. What I liked most about this film was the even treatment and realness of the characters. No one is any “one” thing. Both Duke and Lafferty are shown to be highly competent, independent, generous people, who can also be naïve, bitter, resentful, hateful, and cruel. What is most fascinating is watching the transitions and how well Balaban handles the pacing of the film.

I read somewhere that this film had an obscenely low budget and that Balaban was scraping by to get what he wanted. This is the reason for my comment earlier about someone giving him money. The guy’s a genius and has an eye for detail yet to be unmatched. What you won’t realize until I point this out, is that almost all the action takes place on Duke’s one estate, and that virtually the entire film is carried by Sarandon and Fiennes. There are momentary flashes of lovers, butlers, etc., but really this could have easily been a Broadway play and worked.

Cast:

Susan Sarandon—Doris Duke
Ralph Fiennes—Bernard Lafferty


. . . and others.