I’m always intrigued by the prospect of a new film from Gus Van Sant, and his darkly comedic 2018 indie Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot is a further reminder of how natural and versatile he is as a storyteller.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, the film is based on the life of John Callahan, a 70’s-era artist/musician and severe alcoholic who became paralyzed after a tragic car accident with a drinking buddy, played by Jack Black. The film expertly mixes tones all throughout, with each heartfelt performance feeding into each other.
The narrative centers on Callahan’s painful rehabilitation, his rough journey through AA (Jonah Hill is phenomenal as his sponsor), and his burgeoning relationship with a pretty therapist (Rooney Mara) who might be the emotional support he truly needs.
After his accident, Callahan dedicated his life to becoming a satirical cartoonist, typically creating off-beat and potentially offensive newspaper panels that spoke to his physical condition, as well as life’s other more taboo subjects.
Van Sant, who co-wrote and co-edited the film, is always a stylish filmmaker, and there are some very cool sections to this piece that I wasn’t expecting. Robin Williams had initially optioned Callahan’s memoir and got Van Sant interested in the project. Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot premiered at this past year’s Sundance Film Festival, where Amazon Studios acquired it for release.
It’s now available on Blu-ray/DVD and via various streaming providers. It’s a tough movie to watch at times, but very much worth checking out. Steve Golin POWER.
Review by Nick Clement
