Theme Song: “Follow Your Dreams,” by Jim Messina, appears during the opening and closing credits. It’s a soft ballad that fits the setting.
“Looking For Love,” by Messina, features Nicolette Larson on vocals. Again, this is soft ballad work that fits the atmosphere.
Interesting Dated References: People wearing berets while taking pictures; People wanting to leave their hometowns.
Social Context: A subplot involving domestic violence is displayed with such frankness it’s disturbing. I extend my compliments to the actors and the filmmakers for tackling it with brutal honesty. While some elements of Independence Day suffer from a (perhaps intentional) schmaltzy hand, this subplot stands in stark contrast.
Summary: Beret-clad photographer Mary Ann (Kathleen Quinlan) has lived in the same town her entire life yet still finds the energy to run around snapping photos of townspeople as she awaits an acceptance letter from a San Franciso art school, while also helping her cancer-stricken mother convalesce. We’re supposed to ignore that she’s clearly 30 and still trying to get into art school.
Jack, who recently dropped out of engineering school and loves hot rods, comes sailing back into town. The two go through a fairly typical “should we/shouldn’t we” love affair that culminates in Mary Ann deciding to split for California and giving Jack a ‘follow me or don’t, but I need more’ ultimatum.
Of course, he follows her, and they live happily ever after. Doesn’t that sound like a pleasant movie? Aren’t you glad we’re done with this summary already?
Interspersed within this main storyline is a far superior heartbreaking subplot. Jack’s sister Nancy (Dianne Weist) is in an insanely abusive relationship with her husband Les (an absolutely maniacal Cliff De Young).
Belittled and abused at every moment, Nancy slowly plots her exit strategy. Initially through a failed suicide attempt and then, as things escalate, through drastically desperate measures.
The performance of De Young and Weist takes this otherwise schmaltzy movie and throws it into overdrive. Seriously and with total respect, there’s a scene where Les throws lit matches at Nancy in front of Jack, and Les plays it off as a game. It’s very upsetting to watch, and Weist gives a top-notch performance.
The problem with Independence Day lies in the script. It could have been filmed as a story about three women in different stages of life: Mary Ann’s mother, Carla (Frances Sternhagen), as she battles cancer and comes to terms with end-of-life choices, Mary Ann as she (despite being 30) chooses to move away from home for college and finally, Nancy, as she chooses the exit from her failed relationship.
Unfortunately, Jack and Mary Ann are given center stage and no less than two romantic montages that you’re supposed to feel warm and fuzzy about, disregarding that you just saw someone get lit matches thrown at them.
Worth Mentioning:
– Easily career-defining performances for Weist and De Young.
– Overall, it is a well-done slice of hometown ennui, but that secondary story makes it so intense that it feels negligent to relax during the quiet moments.
– At one point, Mary Ann and Nancy get drunk on the following cocktail:
– 5 oz. Vodka
– Giant glob of Hershey Syrup
– 2 oz. Half & Half
– No ice
I guess it’s somewhat of a White Russian, but it looks disgusting.
– Richard Farnsworth shows up as Jack’s boss at the auto repair shop.
– Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith appears for about two seconds as townie Ginny.
– Look at this ridiculous scene of Jack’s hostile father throwing Nacy’s kid in the air at the dinner table. And look at what a psycho Les is, pointing at people with his thumb. Anyone who points at someone with their thumb is an abusive asshole.
Poster and Box Art: An absolutely incredible use of airbrush/photo montage. Look at those color gradients!
Pleasant conveyance of suburban hellscape. However, Warner must have had marketing issues with Indepence Day because the home video release features the embracing main couple.
This doesn’t do the movie justice, and they should have stuck with the airbrush.