Lymelife
It’s 1979 on Long Island and Lyme disease has the suburban neighborhood on edge after neighbor Charlie (Timothy Hutton) has been diagnosed with the ailment. The onset of the disease spurs, out of necessity, his wife (Cynthia Nixon) to go work for the real estate company of next door neighbor Mickey Bartlett (Alec Baldwin). The two families’ intertwining relationships address love and lust, an idea that would seem to have no angles left unseen. Brothers Derick and Steven Martini as writers of the film, prove to have a fresh take on a concept that would seem to be obvious. The direction of Derick Martini is straightforward yet subtle, moving the film on unexpected paths and positions.
Rory Culkin as Scott Bartlett, son of Mickey and Brenda (Jill Hennessey) is sensational. It is obvious that Martini has an inherent eye for talent. His casting is impeccable, his scoring is sentimental, and his story line is inventively vivid. Lymelife won the coveted International Critics Award at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and was released April 8th in NY and LA theaters. Check your local listings for a release near you. It’s a 2009 film you don’t want slipping by.
