Import Any Day Now

The most cynical critic within me might say that the weepiest and most dramatic moments in Any Day Now feel a little forced; however, the story is powerful enough and the acting is great enough to cover up these minor hiccups. It's put together extremely well, and Alan Cumming's performance is both hilarious and tragic in equal measure. A very good film.

Rudy en Paul zijn een homostel, die graag de voogdij over een kind met het syndroom van Down willen, omdat de moeder van de jongen in gevangenis komt en hem verwaarloost. Any Day Now is een sterk geacteerd drama over de rechten van homo’s in het Amerika van de jaren ’70. Hoe klein de film ook mag zijn, de inhoud is indrukwekkend. Qua beeld en geluid is deze DVD prima verzorgd, maar met alleen een trailer zijn de extra’s erg dun bezaaid. Wil men meer extra's en/of een hogere beeldresolutie, dan is men aangewezen op de DVD en Blu-ray Disc-releases in het buitenland.

Any Day Now is a great film, taking tricky subject matter and handling it with a subtletly missing from too many of today's movies. Music Box, in turn, has honored the film with an impeccable presentation and some short but interesting supplements. A commentary by Fine and the cast could've pushed this up into Collector's Series territory, but this is still highly recommended .

It's 1979 and Alan Cumming's character is making his meager living as a drag performer. He quickly meets a shy closeted hunk (Garret Dillahunt) and they end up fighting for custody of an abandoned teen with Down syndrome. This is an affecting and sweet drama that's elevated by Cumming's feisty performance (and wonderful singing), Dillahunt's lovable charm and Isaac Leyva's sweet smile. The period wardrobe is rich with wide collars and garish patterns, but it's the attitudes that provide the most jarring flashback (although they remain with us). While the subject is fodder for outrage and the story is basic, the acting and direction combine to create an appealing experience.