HAPPY HOUR
Directed by: Mike Bencivenga.
Produced by: J. Todd Harris, Eric Klein & Kimberly Shane O'Hara.
Written by: Mike Bencivenga & Richard Levine.
Director of Photography: Giselle Chamma.
Edited by: Nina Kawasaki & Robert Landau.
Music by: Jeffrey Taylor.
Released by: O'Hara/Klein.
Country of Origin: USA. 93 min. Not Rated.
With: Anthony LaPaglia, Eric Stoltz, Caroleen Feeney & Robert Vaughn.

Anthony LaPaglia stars as Tully, a self-proclaimed "drunk with a writing problem," who spends his days as an advertising copy editor. The job is a joke to Tully, a published author working on a new book - for the past 17 years. One night Tully notices an attractive woman, Natalie (Caroleen Feeney), at his local watering hole matching him drink for drink. Soon the two are chatting it up and the sexual innuendoes are flying. They end up back at Tully's place where Natalie, so very ladylike, offers to burp the alphabet; Tully thankfully declines her offer.

Their night of drunken revelry develops into a surprisingly sweet relationship. (It's actually quite refreshing to see a man pick up a woman his own age and still want to see her the next day.) Tully introduces Natalie to his best friend Levine (Eric Stoltz) and the three form a perfect triangle. They go out drinking every night. Levine crashes on Tully's couch while Tully and Natalie take the bedroom. It's all fun and games until Tully receives devastating news from his doctor.

Anthony LaPaglia's performance is reminiscent of Nicolas Cage's gruesome suicidal imbibing in Leaving Las Vegas. However, LaPaglia brings sadness and vulnerability plus a determination to live to his role. He does an exceptional job depicting Tully's progressive state of decay as he experiences withdrawals, the increasing sallowness of his skin, and his sense of fear. Tully tries to maintain his dignity, even as he is forced to wear a colostomy bag. Simply put, LaPaglia is riveting. Tanya Chesterfield
October 21, 2004