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Review #151 of 365
Film: Peaceful Warrior [PG-13] 121 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.50
Where Viewed: Landmark Harvard Exit Theatre, Seattle, WA
When 1st Seen: 12 June 2006
Time: 9:40 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: Andy S. and Matt S. of Chicago, IL
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
I spent some time thinking about how a director like Victor Salva (Powder, Jeepers Creepers, Jeepers Creepers II) with a very limited résumé and what many people consider, to put it politely, a storied and controversial past, got to or even wanted to helm the reigns of a very spiritually important film like Peaceful Warrior. All I could think was that maybe this was, in some way, his attempt at some closure or, at least, reconciliation. I will leave further consideration of that very loaded construct to others with time to contemplate it; and, instead, I will live in the moment and simply proffer my view on this film as it stands apart from the history of anyone involved with the film save one, the writer of the book upon which the 'inspired by true events' film was based, Mr. Dan Millman himself. Dan Millman, according to his own website, is a "…former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor." He has authored many books, including Journeys of Socrates, The Life You Were Born to Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose, The Laws of Spirit: A Tale of Transformation, and Way of the Peaceful Warrior upon which the screenplay for this film was based. What one can gather quickly from the film version of Way of the Peaceful Warrior is that Mr. Millman is, at his core, a teacher. He was taught, and now he teaches. What he was taught and now teaches could be called personal spirituality, however, I would throw in a little Zen and basic philosophy as well. The story of the Peaceful Warrior is the story of a character called Dan Millman (Scott "Eurotrip" Mechlowicz), a pretty typical, at least as the USA media portrays them, male college gymnast with aspirations for Olympic gold, and a sense that his life couldn't be any better: he has a wealthy father, great talent in a sport he loves, easy classes, very good grades, overnight stays by various young women, friends to join him in consuming a lot of alcohol, and no worries. Yet, he is jarred awake one night by a horrifying dream of him landing after a dismount from his best event, the rings, with the shattering of his right fibula and tibia into a million little pieces. At once his life is ruined. The dream is only the beginning, however, of a journey that leads him to the 'chance' encounter with a gas station attendant whom he dubs Socrates (Nick Nolte) as the old man will not share his name. At first, Dan plans to use Socrates to unlock the mystery of how he is able to accomplish a very mysterious ground to rooftop maneuver in the flash of an eye. As their friendship grows, however, it appears that Dan will get much more out of this relationship than simple mind tricks. He may actually learn a new outlook on life and how to determine what we value most. Unfortunately, he will have to endure some real trials, including a devastating motor cycle accident, before he will finally hone Socrates's message and adopt the philosophy of life himself.
There is no question this is a very powerful and compelling story from which there is much to be learned and gained. Living in the moment, not just to be spontaneous, but to appreciate all that is going on in that moment is a beautiful concept I first encountered in a significant way, believe it or not, in the 1998 film Star Trek - Insurrection where Capt. Piccard encounters a world where the inhabitants are able to slow time so that a second together lasts a lifetime. It is, when you really think about it, quite magical for a society that does everything so fast, and is always rushing here and there to accomplish this and that, to ponder the notion of just stopping all that and really looking at what's going on around oneself and really getting all that is going on in and around oneself. Why really, are we all in such a hurry? Is it so that we can get home to watch the next episode of LOST (order the complete second season )—now there's an interesting concept, maybe those people wouldn't be lost if they had really lived! And that is the key to the Peaceful Warrior as I saw it. Socrates says in the film something like, "The sad thing in life is not death, the sad thing is that most people never really lived in the first place." Who would not be better off if they spent some time thinking about that notion and seeking to implement even just a shade of it into their lives? So, the story is very, very good. I always feel that stories where the characters show demonstrable change throughout are the very best stories, so this would fit into that category. Dan Millman goes in as a self-important, semi-arrogant, fairly shallow person, and he comes out a Peaceful Warrior who has battled with his inner demons and now excels beyond his wildest imagination because he is able to perfect what he does in the moment his is doing it. Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War,
There is no question this is a very powerful and compelling story from which there is much to be learned and gained. Living in the moment, not just to be spontaneous, but to appreciate all that is going on in that moment is a beautiful concept I first encountered in a significant way, believe it or not, in the 1998 film Star Trek - Insurrection where Capt. Piccard encounters a world where the inhabitants are able to slow time so that a second together lasts a lifetime. It is, when you really think about it, quite magical for a society that does everything so fast, and is always rushing here and there to accomplish this and that, to ponder the notion of just stopping all that and really looking at what's going on around oneself and really getting all that is going on in and around oneself. Why really, are we all in such a hurry? Is it so that we can get home to watch the next episode of LOST (order the complete second season )—now there's an interesting concept, maybe those people wouldn't be lost if they had really lived! And that is the key to the Peaceful Warrior as I saw it. Socrates says in the film something like, "The sad thing in life is not death, the sad thing is that most people never really lived in the first place." Who would not be better off if they spent some time thinking about that notion and seeking to implement even just a shade of it into their lives? So, the story is very, very good. I always feel that stories where the characters show demonstrable change throughout are the very best stories, so this would fit into that category. Dan Millman goes in as a self-important, semi-arrogant, fairly shallow person, and he comes out a Peaceful Warrior who has battled with his inner demons and now excels beyond his wildest imagination because he is able to perfect what he does in the moment his is doing it. Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War,
Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.
So, with a very good story at the root, it was left up to the actors and the director not to ruin the movie. I suppose some people read the book and pictured a certain actor for Socrates. Again, I've said it a million times now, wait until after the movie to read the book and you won't have this problem. And, I was a huge critic of Tom Hanks being cast in The Da Vinci Code—where he did not belong. But, I did not feel this way about Nick Nolte. In fact, he harkens back a bit to the character he played in one of my favorite Nolte/Sarandon films, and one of my top ten dramas of all time that never got much respect from other people, Lorenzo's Oil—it was just too much science for the average audience I guess, but it's an incredible film. He plays this role with great passion and wisdom, and I thought he was very, very good. And then there's Scott Mechlowicz!?! Where has this guy been hiding? With deeply soulful eyes and with curious and whimsical yet fierce and tenacious facial expressions galore, he jumped off the ledge into this role and stuck the landing. He was very, very impressive. Amy Smart, whom we know has a penchant for falling for inaccessible guys as in her last major performance as Kayleigh Miller in The Butterfly Effect (another one of my favorite, "makes you think" movies), also does a charming job as Joy, the out-of-reach love interest and future wife of Dan. The only over-acting comes from some of the other college gymnasts who are a bit melodramatic and Dan's gymnastics coach who plays the role a little too harshly.
On the whole, I'd say that Victor Salva used the two hours very well. More importantly, he skillfully recognized a fundamental philosophy of Dan Millman's Socrates in making a film that is about the journey of Dan as much as it is about the journey the film takes the viewer on through Dan. Hopefully, by the end, the viewers will come out with a somewhat new perspective on things for use in their own lives.
On the whole, I'd say that Victor Salva used the two hours very well. More importantly, he skillfully recognized a fundamental philosophy of Dan Millman's Socrates in making a film that is about the journey of Dan as much as it is about the journey the film takes the viewer on through Dan. Hopefully, by the end, the viewers will come out with a somewhat new perspective on things for use in their own lives.
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
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Review-lite [150-word cap]
Fittingly, Dan Millman's book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, in the same year that the film will be released to reach all of those non-readers. The film stars Nick Nolte as Socrates, the mysterious Zen-like philosophy teacher / gas station attendant who enters the life of gold-medal driven, UC-Berkeley gymnast, Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) at a time when the shallowness of his existence is becoming more and more apparent. Ultimately, a horrifying motorcycle accident forces Dan to reach deep inside himself, implement the teachings of his Socrates, and find the will to work hard enough to not just get back the life he had, but to draw even greater life from the moments he has yet to live. The work of Victor Salva (director), Mechlowicz, Nolte, and Kevin Bernhardt (screen writer) results in a very powerful film with a great message and life lesson.
2 comments:
I've read millman's body-mind mastery (and even gave that book to barinholtz as a graduation gift) as well as "way of the peaceful warrior". The discovery of the film (which I have yet to view) felt extremely exciting and your review -- eloquent, in-depth, and comprehesive -- definitely re-activated a lot of the inspiration originally cultivated by reading the books. Awesome review!
I just saw the film. Exceptional. You're right. There exist a million factors and bureaucratic nuances that could arise as obstacles for great actors, but I definitely smell "a-list" potential from Scott Mechlowicz. The entire film had an incredible cast, script, direction but I felt like I got more out of it after reading your detailed and compelling review.
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