The Ballad of Jack and Rose

60's idealism finally dies in Rebecca Miller's latest film. It reminds us that our attempts to return to Eden and create a communal utopia here on earth, are doomed to fail, because the reality is that we live a fallen world. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an excellent performance as Jack, an aging ex-hippie tree-hugger dying of some disease and living alone on an old East coast commune with his 16 year old daughter, Rose. The two of them have an affectionate relationship, perhaps too affectionate, but that is not the point. Rose is maturing and Jack is beginning to realize that you can isolate yourself on an island, but you can't escape civilization, and you can't escape the evils of this world. It's a generally strong film that takes a downward turn somewhere in the middle when a melodramatic plot device is introduced. But I respect the fairness to which Miller offers to both Day-Lewis as environmentalist and Beau Bridges, the land developer (which could have easily turned into a useless "evil land developer and raper of the environment" role), but she realizes that their differences almost come down to a matter of taste. I slightly object to the way that Catherine Keener's character is more or less just used and discarded, though the inclusion of her and her two boy created some of the more interesting relational dynamics in the film. Also of note is Ellen Kuras' lovely camerawork that has an weightless, gliding quality to it.