Name: Retro Film Review: Homegrown (1998)
Item: Homegrown
Rating: 70
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

Drug abuse is as serious a problem as it was decades ago, when the first drug-related films began to appear in Hollywood. Seriousness of the problem and conformism of modern Hollywood make contemporary drug-related films formulaic and predictable - they all almost exclusively deal only with drug consumption and take serious approach to the subject. It is, therefore, difficult to imagine Hollywood film dealing with other aspects of drug abuse phenomenon or taking more light-hearted approach. Films that break such taboos are unlikely to get in the media spotlight. One of those films sentenced to obscurity was Homegrown, 1998 dark comedy directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal.

Protagonists of the film are Jack (played by Billy Bob Thornton), Carter (played by Hank Azaria) and Harlan (played by Ryan Philippe) - three losers whose life became somewhat easier after being hired by Malcolm (played by John Lithgow), mysterious millionaire. They work on Malcolm's illegal marijuana plantation hidden in the woods of Northern California. Just before the harvest they witness Malcolm's murder and decide to pick as much crop as possible in order to recoup lost wages. While they conduct the sales, they realise that nobody has any clue about Malcolm's death. Jack, who is the smartest of the group, suggest that they pick the entire crop, sell it for themselves and thus make millions of dollars. He takes Malcolm's identity and struggles with his new role of businessman. In the meantime, Carter and Harlan are picking crops and becoming rivals because of their attractive and promiscuous helper Lucy (played by Kelly Lynch).

According to Gyllenhaal, Homegrown was supposed to be modern-day remake of Huston's classic The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The audience, on the other hand, watched something different - occasionally dark, but mostly entertaining look at the life of American pot growers. Film's greatest achievement is in its realism - many characters and the scenes are funny, but they look like they belong to real life. Gyllenhaal is honest enough not to glamourise the drug trade - this business, just like any illegal activity, is marred with potential or real violence; people get hurt or worse. On the other hand, Gylenhaal and his co-writer Nicholas Kazan recognise that pointing fingers towards people involved in the drugs production isn't the solution; pot growing is presented as industry that keeps entire towns and communities alive. This is illustrated in delightful scenes during which pot growers gather and deliver self-righteous speeches in which they describe themselves as keepers of entrepreneurial spirit, resistance to tyrannical authorities and other American values. Even more delightful are scenes during which ordinary citizens show incredible solidarity with characters who are supposed to be criminals.

Homegrown was made with small budget but it nevertheless had more than respectable class. Billy Bob Thornton is great in the role of group's leader, while Hank Azaria and Ryan Philippe are also good as his partners. On the other hand, subplot involving Kelly Lynch's character was not particularly necessary and the plot twist involving Malcolm's fate was too grotesque for generally realistic tone of the film. But few people would mind those flaws at the end. Homegrown is funny enough to leave audience in the mood similar to those of the protagonists in final scene.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 24th 2004)