Greenfingers

Synopsis: Set in a low security prison in modern day England, Greenfingers charts the unlikely transition of a group of men from hardened prisoners to world standard gardeners.

Well, Greenfingers certainly has as inauspicious start; when the words "This film is inspired by true events" flashed on the screen, the collective fear in the cinema was palpable. Not one for redemptive storylines, the narrative scope of finding salvation in gardening seemed to me like a remarkably awkward one, and that it was. For my money, young writer/director Joel Hershman is yet to develop the maturity necessary to take a story as slight as this and elevate it beyond the realm of the midday movie. That said, it's a pretty good midday movie -inoffensive, reasonably transparent, and with just enough feel-good buttons pressed to serve a time-killing purpose.

Unfortunately, it also seems like a calculated (albeit unsuccessful) attempt on the part of Clive Owens to increase his range beyond the realm of the world-weary cynic to include the rough-as-bags-lost-soul-with-a-heart-of-gold type character. Whether Owens is incapable of such a performance, or he simply chose the wrong script, is not clear, but regardless of the reason, it's a flawed effort. For all our sakes, I certainly hope it's the latter, because his work thus far has been impeccable.

The chemistry between Owens and love-interest Primrose (Natasha Little) is nonexistent. As a result, the "romantic" scenes are best ignored, or at the very least, relabeled as "just good friends" scenes. A similar apathy can be found in Owen's approach to his character's heinous history, which, when revealed in all its monotone greatness is about as shocking as a bikini on a beach. In fact, the terrible crimes that all these characters are supposed to have committed do little more than serve as unbelievable backdrops, hopelessly trying to instill a three dimensionality into these, for the most part, lovable larrikins.

Helen Mirren's celebrity gardener adds a touch of class to the proceedings, but even she isn't given much to work with. Her panic attack when bitten by a bee actually manages to sink below Owen's performance as a particular low-point.

But listen to me, as soon as I hear it's a true story, I go and sink the teeth in... While a pleasant enough film to take the grandparents too on a rainy Sunday, Greenfingers charms are too few to work on any hardened cinema-goer.

 

 

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