“Acidman” - Tribeca Film Fest Review
Alex Lehmann’s Acidman is a tale of fathers and daughters. The movie begins when Maggie (Dianna Agron) shows up at her dad’s (Thomas Hayden Church) house, seemingly out of the blue. He lives in middle-of-nowhere Oregon with his dog, Migo (Migo). There’s something weighing heavily on Maggie and her dad can sense it. He knows she didn’t appear on his doorstep just to check in with him. The real reason for her visit is a closely guarded secret, but as her father shows her his extraterrestrial life project, some truths begin to trickle out.
Acidman is tender in a way that’s unexpected in 1a film about aliens, even though aliens are a perfect way to demonstrate the importance of and the inescapable human need for tenderness. The reason people look to the stars is to find a sense of belonging and purpose. It’s humbling to be fully present in life. To be reminded of the smallness of humanity when it’s contrasted with the enormity of the universe. To try to find meaning in the incomprehensible vastness of space. That’s what we’re all doing, but we all do it in different ways. Some people start wars to gain power so they don’t feel small. Others make art they hope will allow them to make connections, and perhaps to avoid being forgotten. And still others look to science to bridge the gaps in the differences between life forms, and maybe someday allow them to communicate with each other. All of us are attempting to grapple with our own fleeting time on this beautiful rock that’s floating through space.
ICM Partners + Ten to the Six Pictures + 42West
At the heart of the movie is the relationship between Maggie and her father. They spend the first half of the film discussing anything other than the topics that should be addressed. How do you talk about what’s important when there’s so much that needs to be said? It feels like an uncrossable chasm for Maggie and her father because their instinct is always to run away. When things get hard or someone relies on them too heavily, they bolt. These characters are very similar to each other, but they act like strangers. It’s a fine line that has to be walked in the performances of Agron and Church. They must be bonded by blood and years of closeness, but they are also at an impasse. Once those walls break and everything comes out, the film soars. Agron gives a stunning performance, simultaneously commanding the screen while trying to slink away and hide from what she doesn’t want to face.
Acidman has no heroes or villains, despite having a name that sounds like an unknown Marvel character. Relationships are the battleground here. People are at their best and their worst when they’re fighting for the things they love.
Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Letterboxd, and YouTube.