Leaves of Grass Directed by: Tim Blake Nelson Starring: Edward Norton, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss Rating: R Release Date: April 20, 2010
TRAILER SCORE: 8/10
MY THOUGHTS: Oh how the mighty have fallen. While this movie premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, it’s finally making its release as a straight-to-DVD feature. Don’t let that scare you off though. While the premise of two “opposites attract” twin brothers seems strangely reminiscent of Nicolas Cage in Adaptation, this film still seems promising. Norton showcasing his ability to not take himself too seriously can’t help but remind me of his cameo in The Invention of Lying and if he brings that kind of comedy to this, it promises to be memorable. Granted, there are moments where suspension of disbelief seems an absolute must, but that’s just semantics. Factor in the strong supporting cast, especially a post-“Felicity” Keri Russell in what looks like an endearing role, and it’s hard to imagine this as a home release. I guess they weren’t counting on Norton fans or the occasional indie stoner. My only real complaint is the uneducated Southern stereotype, but it’s not enough to stop me from seeing it. Final note, to Walt Whitman fans out there, this is a serious departure from his book of poetry of the same name.