As any people who know me well can attest to, I am ultimately a good old fashioned romantic at heart, and any WELL DONE (major key here) films with that type of theme tends to tug at my heartstrings, not gonna lie. And as my continuing journey into indie films has, well, CONTINUED, I keep finding that deeper human, relatable quality exists when explored through the genre more and more. And as such, I found this to be the case in Roadside Attractions’ 2014 release, “Barefoot”.
Directed by Andrew Fleming (“The Craft“, “Nancy Drew“), “Barefoot” tells the story of Jay Wheeler (Scott Speedman), whom we see is living the slacker/uninspired life in L.A. based alone on the very first situation we see him in. We do find that he is actually part of a very rich family whom he does not connect or speak with much, but a phone call about coming home to his brother’s upcoming wedding causes him to rethink some decisions. To top it off, he’s told his family that he’s dating a nurse and they hence ask him to bring her with him to the wedding. Hardly working but, we find, having worked hard to accrue a whopper of a gambling debt to a local loan shark who wants his due, Jay takes on a job as a janitor at a psychiatric hospital where he STILL misbehaves a BIT by interacting with several of the patients (fun, and key, supporting roles by David Jensen and Thomas Francis Murphy) and trying to pick up a date with a nurse, as that’s what his situation demands in going home, all of this much to the ongoing aggravation of the resident head physician, Dr. Bertleman (the always great J.K. Simmons). However, one day while on shift, Jay spots a particular incoming patient…a beautiful young woman with whom he exchanges a fleeting glance. We see the initial admittance interview with this newcomer and Dr. Bertleman, and we get the impression she is potentially schizophrenic, being very unaware of so many things and not even sure exactly why she’s in the hospital. Later, as he’s leaving for the night, Jay overhears an escalating disturbance into which he interjects himself and prevents a potential crime, and in doing so, officially meets Daisy Kensington (the adorable Evan Rachel Wood), the incoming patient he had seen earlier. Assuring that she is alright, Jay leaves, only to find Daisy is following him. Of course, he initially panics and tries to advise her she cannot go with him, but then it dawns on him that a problem he has could be solved. So he makes the choice to abscond with Daisy to his parent’s home in New Orleans.
Now the REAL adventure begins, as Jay begins to find out that Daisy is truly not accustomed to pretty much ANYTHING involved with the outside world. Yet her innocence and infectious charm and happiness start affecting Jay in ways he doesn’t expect, and then suddenly he is supporting her, defending her, assisting her in all the seemingly first-time experiences she is having. From a quick stop at a local strip club that Jay has apparently frequented a bit too much, to trying to explain to Daisy that she has to say she’s a nurse (as Jay is stating he met her in A hospital, where he works as an administrator) when interacting with his family, to her first flight on a plane, it’s actually Daisy’s naiveté that makes her totally likeable to everyone she meets, much less allowing her to appear to function completely normally. By the time she’s met Jay’s executive father (Treat Williams) and mother (Kate Burton), everyone is smitten with Daisy. Everything that unfolds while at the parent’s home (there’s a great dinner table scene) and during the wedding is so entertainingly fun, and many times funny, that we have almost forgotten a secret Daisy told Jay while on their journey from L.A. and that Daisy, after all, WAS admitted to a mental hospital. It is only after a brief, but revealing encounter at the wedding’s reception that Jay finally has to come clean about what he’s been doing in loose terms in L.A. and who Daisy is. And yet, it’s when things reach this point…the subsequent realization that Daisy needs to be taken back to the L.A. hospital, the fugitive trip back in that direction and the events during it, and the events occurring after make it back to L.A. that cement Jay’s true and grounded feelings toward Daisy, which she has had for him since the beginning. I am going to say here that I did not want to really in ANY form explain or give away THESE particular events, because it’s honestly something to be experienced in watching the film. Some people will say it’s cheesy probably, others will melt into the story like I did, again in its simplicity of storytelling. But regardless of your reaction, watch the film to get the final act’s moments and revelations.
And it is a briskly-paced film, clocking in at a little over 90 minutes. Speedman brings that “everyman” quality to Jay’s character, which lends itself well to a tale such as this. I feel you need someone who can play a realistically flawed person whose journey to an unexpected life change is, as I stated at the beginning, relatable to in some way anyway. But the REAL winner here IS Evan Rachel Wood. She plays Daisy which SUCH a GENUINE, realistic, doe-eyed innocence that you really cannot help but fall in love with her right along with Jay. And I guess it’s admirable to me for her to be playing this fictional character of Daisy, yet making me feel like this person is actually out there right now somewhere, maybe even experiencing life is this whole new ALIVE way like she is in the film. The supporting turn by J.K. Simmons is solid, and Williams always seems to be able to play father figures well. But this IS Jay and Daisy’s ride the whole way, and it was effectively accomplished. We aren’t (or shouldn’t be) looking for Oscar performances here, just being fair, but that’s NOT what level this story or film is about, and I think in some ways, if it HAD been…the beauty of another straight forward, age-old story about that thing they call love might have been lost.
As always, this is all for YOUR consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
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