M&M: Nell

Dear reader,

in this movie from the year 1994, a young man provides a woman, living alone in the woods, with food, which he leaves for her in front of the cabin. But it isn't quite that easy. He hears wailing and as he carefully enters the cabin, he finds a woman, seemingly dead on the floor. Also there are flowers on the body and around. As if someone prepared the woman like this. Did the woman not live alone after all? The doctor of the town, Jerome “Jerry” Lovell (Liam Neeson) is called by the sheriff (Nick Searcy). They eventually find a young woman, by the name of Nell (Jodie Foster), who they find out is the unbeknownst daughter of the dead woman. Nell only speaks an unknown language of her own.

For Jerry Nell is fascinating. She grew up away from civilisation and yet she can seemingly live and organise her life completely inependantly. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson), a young psychologist student, sees more the scientific of it all. She would like Nell at the hospical for further investigation of her as well as her language. For the court however the most pressing question is whether Nell can live independantly or if she is depending on help and/or assistance.

Eventually it's decided that Nell can, for the time being, stay where she is and Jerry and Nell make themselves comfortable in the woods, too. At first they do it independently from each other, but by interacting and investigating Nell, they also get closer to each other.

It's getting obvious that Nell will not live undiscovered and isolated forever. So it's time to show Nell the civilisation, the town. An adventure for all people involved. Then the media notices Nell indeed and so a decision what to do next has to be made spontaneous and fast. Shortly after this radical experience for Nell, the second hearing at the court is set, which will decide how Nell is doing and how and where she'll live in the future.

“Nell” isn't one of the best movies. The end is, although certainly desirable, over all a “Hollywood ending” and as cheesy as it is simply illogical an ending. Seeing how Nell behaved up to the court hearing, but especially how she reacted at the town visit and then the shock experience when the media finds her, then I just can't describe her behaviour at the court hearing with anything else but “illogical”. The movie borrows cliches from the “wild, beautiful” life outside of town, to the rather “movie-type” of psychologist up to the Hollywood-happy-ending. Why then do I enjoy watching this movie anyway and write it up here now? For one thing because I still do find it enjoyable to spend some time with Nell in the woods and to appreciate the images of the beautiful landscape and surroundings. Also I like watching Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson and how they are so profoundly different at first and then get closer to one another. Some said that Jodie Foster's performance was too much acting and Nell seemed very forced. She seemed believable to me though, save the impossible court hearing at the end.

One reason why I didn't watch this movie over the last years, is the fact that Natasha Richardson, who by the way later in real life married Liam Neeson, had a skiing accident in March 2009. At first everything seemed ok, but in the end she died from inner head injuries on March, 18^th. This is the only film I've got with her and I think this is also the only with with her and her (although not yet at that time) husband.

The book to the movie is, like almost always with books, a bit deeper with the background information on the individual characters. It's a nice read, if you like the movie. For the great images however, I'd still recommend the movie rather than the book.

For those of you, who like generally calm film scores, this soundtrack by Mark Isham might be for you. I know I enjoy it at least. I don't listen to it much anymore, because I don't think of it often, but I appreciate it every time I do listen to it.

Until next blog,

sarah