Leaves Of Grass (2009)  

Review: written December 2013

Dis-jointed comedy thriller

Leaves of Grass - or as it might be called the Tim Blake-Nelson show, since he conceived, wrote, directed and even has a supporting role in it, is a noble attempt at genre mixing. We are introduced to twin brothers who have long since kept their distance and lived very different lives - one the philosophy professor with Harvard aspirations, the other the grower of the titular weed, played by Edward Norton (on double duties).

Leaves of Grass, the literary great by Walt Whitman applies to the former twin, proverbial Leaves of Grass allude to the latter. Norton makes an excellent go at portraying both characters and keeping them firmly separate in your mind.. not an easy thing to do, though he does seem somewhat more muted in his performance than the material often calls for. The story has the philosophical brother return to his Oklahoma roots when he thinks there has been a death in the family, only for a complicated run of events to transpire, as the hick brother tries to get his weed business past some critical negotiations. Keri Russell's likeable love interest seems to hit the tone the rest of the movie strives for - down to earth country girl at heart who actually is just as much a philosopher and poet and as clever as either of Norton's characters.

One of the things this movie has going for it, is its resistance to pigeon-holing. Just as you think you have it sussed, it will throw you a curve ball. It's a sweet romance hidden inside a Coen Brothers riffing philosophical black comedy thriller with a soupcon of Tarantino-esque violence which suddenly appears once you have been lulled into a false sense of security. While laudably ambitious, this does make for a tonally uneven film, likely to make you wish for more of one aspect or another, depending on your leaning. It's not an action film - but the violence, particularly in the scene with cameo by Richard Dreyfuss, is as brutal as it is sudden, coming hot on the heels of some genuinely quite tender and soul searching moments just prior.

All in all then, there's enough originality here to enjoy, and more than a few actors worth watching, including Susan Sarandon in an underwritten role as the brother's mum. There are moments which make you think you are watching something a little unique.. but the studied quirkiness in some places sits ill at ease with the more generic and predictable elements particularly in the films resolution. Using the titular weed to force an analogy, when Nelson tried to roll his own, seems he tied to get too much at once and the wrapper can't quite hold it all.. Still it's got brains, which sets it above the pack. A qualified thumbs up then..