I Am Man

Author(s): Zgamer
Location: Eagle, ID

“I Am Man”

Distributed by: Buena Vista Studios
Produced by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen and Scott Rudin
Directed by: Joel Coen
Written by: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Principal Cast:

Steve Buscemi as Oliver Darwin
Brian Cox as Peter Gabriel Callahan
Frances McDormand as Miranda Quinn
Regina King as Susan Parks
John Goodman as Mayor Paul McKinley
Tim Blake Nelson as Joshua Cobb

Genre: Dramatic-Comedy
Rating: PG-13 for language and some suggestive humor

Tagline: “It’s called MANkind for a reason"

Release Date: October 14, 2007

Synopsis: The year is 1910. The woman’s rights movement is starting to gain momentum, as more people begin to learn of and sympathize with the plight and discrimination that this gentle gender has suffered. Led by the charismatic Miranda Quinn (McDormand), aided immeasurably by her assistant and civil rights activist Susan Parks (King), the movement has plowed through the male dominated society with the force of a rolling boulder. Soon, the women of the nation may finally get the rights they have been looking for, including that basic right to vote.

However, this does not bode well for one man. Oliver Darwin (Buscemi), an unmarried New Yorker who holds to his conviction that he is a descendant to Charles Darwin himself, feels that the movement is wrong. In his own opinion, he believes that man rightfully deserves the privileges women don’t have, being the “pinnacle of evolution” they are. One day, he finally decides he needs to get this message broadcasted to the world. So, hiring an ex-political campaign manager (Cox) and his spineless assistant (Nelson) to help him, he started a new movement to ensure that the rights men have had for thousands of years are kept the way they are.

Many months pass, and as Darwin continues his crusade, the odds truly begin to stack against him. New events, such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, arise that further his opponent’s cause, which brings important figures like the mayor of New York (Goodman) into the fray. And as Darwin continues to preach of his “just cause”, the idiocy of it all becomes evident to the public. Even Callahan, who initially had no doubt that this was the right idea, begins to question if his employer’s bigotry. Darwin does not see it this way, as he is willing to do whatever it takes, even sacrifice his fellowship with the people he wants to defend, to make people see he is right. Then one day, a chance meeting with Quinn herself gives Darwin the opportunity to tip the scales in his favor. After talking with her for a while, Darwin decides to challenge her to a formal public debate in front of city hall to see who will emerge victorious. So it’s on that rainy Saturday morning, in front of a diverse crowd, that the fate of this struggle will be decided.

What the press would say:

As if role reversal wasn’t screwed up enough. Now the Coen brothers, who have a record for being politically incorrect, have made this unique and ironically funny movie that dares to have the audience question their own opinions on the going-ons of our culture. The tone will shift now and then from a twisted fable to a sharp satire on the influence of special interest groups on the public, but this style of storytelling should not be unfamiliar to any Coen fan. The said pace is balanced well by director Joel, so that you’re neither overwhelmed by the message of being open-minded that the story gives or left out of the loop of the wit of the screenplay.

The casting in this movie is a thing of beauty. Buscemi is great as a charmingly twisted main character. Though his closed-minded views and strange agenda may catch some of the audience off-guard, none will question that this is probably one of the best-realized characters of any Coen film. Buscemi keeps his character consistently funny and appealing, even if the audience already knows he’s fighting a losing battle. To add to this, the supporting cast all offers a great springboard for Buscemi to work off of. Cox, who’s career has had a string of hit-or-miss roles, gives his all in a witty role that helps balance the insanity his character has gotten himself into. To no one’s surprise, the Coen’s ability to construct colorful and powerful women characters shows once again. McDormand‘s performance of Miranda Quinn radiates the charisma and inner strength of the female spirit that, if she really existed, would be the true spirit of the women’s right movement.

If any movie this year can tickle your funny bone and reward those with a sharp eye for wit, this is that one.

Possible nominations
Best Picture (Ethan Coen, Joel Coen and Scott Rudin)
Best Director (Joel Coen)
Best Screenplay (Ethan and Joel Coen)
Best Actor (Steve Buscemi)
Best Supporting Actor (Brian Cox)
Best Supporting Actress (Frances McDormand)
Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins)
Best Costume Design (Judianna Makovsky)
Best Editing (Roderick Jaynes a.k.a. Joel Coen)