"The Winter Sun"

Author(s): Tony
Location: Pittsburgh

"The Winter Sun"

Directed by Ang Lee
Written by Denys Arcand
Produced by Bruce Cohen
Music by Gabriel Yared

Main Cast

Tom Hanks as Jack Hanson
James Gandolfini as George Myers
Renée Zellweger as Alice Gardner
Dwight Yoakam as Sheriff Paul Sims
Sam Elliott as Bob Murdoch
Will Patton as Danny Gardner
Donal Logue as Larry Matthews
Jaimz Woolvett as Kenneth Machin
Connor Christopher Levins as Peter Hanson

Tagline: "The sun is the soul as sorrow is the heart"

Synopsis: Hypertrichosis, a condition that causes excessive growth of hair in areas where it normally doesn't grow. It presents itself over the entire body making one look like a werewolf. There is no cure. Shaving the hair can prevent it, but it grows back in a matter of days. Jack Hanson was born with this curse.

Jack was abandoned one month after his birth, his condition had his parents so frightened they dropped him off to a broken down orphanage where Jack would spend all his childhood. Obviously he didn't have many friends, except one, George Myers. Together the two grew up together and become brothers. Jack, the quiet, lonesome, frightened monster and George, the sarcastic funny man with an anger problem. 50 years later they moved to a small town in Wyoming where George worked as plant operator while Jack lived in the downstairs basement, hidden from the world. But once George forces Jack to live life and go outside on the first day of winter, Jack is amazed by the sun that glows over the mountain tops but is taunted by the children and people that pass by. He's ordered to go buy milk at the local market where he is confronted by the cashier Alice. At first frightened but then interested was Alice. The two began to talk as the days went by. However, never did Jack leave the house if the winter sun wasn't shining over him, the opposite of a werewolf. George would get him a job at the plant. At first skeptical was the boss of the plant Bob Murdoch, but he gave him the chance and fired lazy and intolerant Kenneth Machin. His buddy Larry Matthews was very displeased, but with George by his side the crudeness was limited.

Months later the relationship between Jack and Alice grew stronger and eventually Jack asked Alice to marry him. Alice accepted, but was quickly disowned by her brother Danny after meeting Jack. He still never came out at night, but he was gaining the respect of his co-workers, except Larry. Once Larry threatened the life of Jack, George nearly beat him to a living death. It was then 2 nights after a tragic hit and run ended the life of George Myers. With all the evidence leading towards Larry he was quickly off the hook with personal connections with Sheriff Paul Sims. Days of grieving went by but the entire world came crashing when a note was left on the kitchen counter. Alice had to leave, the neglection from her family caused her into a deep depression. Now with the entire town against him and his love and brother gone, Jack is lost, but the sun was still there. Now years later Jack is the manager of the plant and things were fine, until a knock on the door changed his life forever. It was Alice with Jacks child, Peter. With responsibilities on his hands, Jack now has a life he needs to fulfill.

What the Press would say:

What more can be said about this years heart stealing drama "The Winter Sun". With so much meaning behind this film it's hard to grasp it all. Your breath is taken away from the poignant story-telling and deep emotional state this film provides. Ang Lee's vision leaves you numb in an emotionally heavy way. All of the actors in The Winter Sun are flawless, and all of them have roles that in another story might have been bland stereotypes of predictable natures. Tom Hanks inhabits the role of Jack Hanson with a depth that feels more real than any performance I've seen in memory. His myriad expressions alternate with extraordinary subtlety and unhindered energy. A performance that will go down as one of the best in years, a heartbreaking look at a broken down man who has to live with the cards he was dealt, hurt by our society's refusal to see that it's not a choice. The scene when Jack finds out of his brothers death will forever be remembered. Hank's partner in crime is Soprano's star James Gandolfini. Gandolfini showed great rage and control with his role as Tony Soprano, as he does in this film. In "The Winter Sun", Gandolfini makes you laugh with his spot-on smart allick comments throughout, even towards his pal Jack, but James is truly the encouragement in Jacks life, a guardian angel who is as sentimental as can be, showing his wide range of anger towards Jacks bitter enemies. And finally the cycle is complete with Renée Zellweger. Her character is very complexed where in which she has to fight her feelings. The first half of the film she's a character with a lot of hope, graceful, and full of love. The second half all of her hope is drained, she's frightened and broken down. A transition worked to perfection. Together this film is perfection. Enlightening, pure humanity, spiritually transcendent, a true gift to us viewers. This is a reward to those who will value its raw power, a tremendous achievement and landmark in cinema history.

FYC:

Best Picture - Ang Lee, Denys Arcand, Bruce Cohen
Best Director - Ang Lee
Best Actor - Tom Hanks
Best Supporting Actor - James Gandolfini
Best Supporting Actress - Renée Zellweger
Best Original Screenplay - Denys Arcand
Best Cinematography
Best Original Score
Best Make-up