‘Warren’: A different kind of love story
Photo by Savannah Rake
Written by Savannah Rake
It’s rare when a movie uses all the aspects of filmmaking to successfully show the characters’ physical interactions as well as their internal feelings in a way that is both subtle and unmistakable. That is exactly what writer and director Alex Beh and his dynamite cast achieve in “Warren.” It is not a love story — at least, not in the traditional sense. The movie addresses the parallels between parents and their children, discontent within a family, and the danger of nostalgia. It is more a love story about a father and his child than it is about lovers.
The film opens on Warren, played by Beh himself, a disillusioned coffee barista sitting in a car as a disembodied voice speaks to him. That disembodied voice belongs to Warren’s father, Jack, played by John Heard. He is on the second story of his soon to be demolished house, speaking to Warren through a megaphone with a whisky in his hand. Jean Smart plays Warren’s mom, Claire. Beh beautifully portrays an uncomfortable paralleled relationship between Jack and Claire, and Warren and Emma.
Both relationships have failed, but neither man can seem to move on. Claire is seeing a younger man. When we are introduced to Emma, Beh gives us a close shot of her sparkly engagement ring. Both Jack and Warren have never left their hometown of Chicago despite a possible promising improv career in Los Angeles for Warren, and a life of adventure in Mexico for Jack.
You expect that Warren will leave to pursue his dreams in Los Angeles from the very beginning, but somehow you don’t care. You want to continue watching and rooting for Warren. Emma is given just as much screen with her suit-wearing, all-American fiancé Ted, played by Austin Stowell, as with Warren, but Beh makes it clear the story is about Warren.
The dialogue is simple and unextraordinary at times, but this seems intentional. Sprinkled throughout are surprising moments of wisdom and insight. There is a major disconnect between what is said in the film and what is felt by the characters. It allows what is not being said to bubble to the surface, especially in the moments of silence.
The soundtrack is masterfully chosen to fit seamlessly with the emotions he wants to portray. Beh holds the viewer’s hand and guides them through melancholy, isolation, love, anger and hope. The under arching story is honest and touching. Beh is present in every shot of “Warren.” It is masterfully crafted with equal amounts rowdy humor and unabashed emotion.
