Growing up in Portland, I heard a lot about Gus Van Sant and his movies dealing with people on society's margins. I also saw John Callahan's irreverent cartoons in a local paper and got Callahan's autograph at one point. It was probably inevitable that Van Sant would direct a Callahan biopic. "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot" is a fine movie. Joaquin Phoenix truly captures Callahan's aura. I recommend it.

John Callahan (Joaquin Phoenix) is paralyzed when fellow drunk Dexter (Jack Black) crashes his car while he was unconscious in the passenger seat. He is an angry crippled drunk who rides his wheelchair too fast. He joins AA. With his sponsor Donny (Jonah Hill) and his girlfriend Annu (Rooney Mara),he finds salvation and a new career in drawing irreverent cartoons.

Phoenix can be very off-putting. His wheelchair is going way too fast. Slow down, you idiot. The chair needs a speed limiter. It's a design flaw. This is an interesting character study. While Callahan is very annoying and self-destructive, he is never uninteresting. He is infuriating. There are moments of great clarity like Reba calling him out during a meeting. It's not a movie of action or tremendous thrills. It is intriguing personality drama.

"Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot" (admittedly a bit of a clumsy title) is a new American movie and the most recent filmmaking effort by Oscar-nominated director Gus Van Sant. And as I am a huge fan of Milk and some other stuff he did (even his not too well-received relatively recent Matt Damon movie),I cannot deny that I was a bit curious about this one. This also has to do with the fact that the main character here is played by Joaquin Phoenix, a favorite actor of mine, maybe even my absolute number one at this point and he is just really good in everything he stars in. This is the story of successful cartoonist John Callahan, with major focus on the years between his drastic car accident and him becoming a successful artist, and how he found his way back into life. This was mostly thanks to the people he met, especially in groups trying to support him with his desperate attempts to stay sober. The supporting cast includes Jonah Hill, who I am generally not a fan of, but here he does really well with his character I must say. Jack Black only has two appearances early on and very late and he was an absolute scene stealer there and very much on par with Phoenix, which says quite something. I certainly would have liked to see more from his character, but it fits that he had so little screen time only because his character just wasn't a major force in Callahan's life, even if he directly contributed to the devastating car accident. And then there is Rooney Mara, Phoenix' real life girlfriend I think, so it is not too surprising that the two appeared in quite a few films together recently. But here she has really not too much to work with to be honest. But that's fine as it is not a film about her character to save him or so and even with how close she is to him, she is just one of many elevating his life and it's never a great romance or love movie. The scene that stays in the mind the most perhaps when they are caught during sex is also all about the comedy really. There is pretty graphic comedy here to be honest at times, I mean the "sitting on face" scene says it all. But that goes well with Callahan's relatively obscene and dirty sense of humor that is reflected in his drawings on many occasions throughout the entire movie.

You could even call it a bit of a historic movie looking at when it is set. There are many references about culture and society back in the day like for example about AIDS, about profanity and the perception of it in 1970s America etc. Sure it is not history as a genre, but there are definitely elements. In addition, what I also liked is how every character in this film has a bit of a positive and tragic site to them and how it is sometimes balanced, sometimes not so much, just like with Callahan. This refers to Black's and Hill's characters especially. In terms of Black, he seemed almost like an antagonist later on the way Callahan talks about him during one scene, but then the film eventually turns to being a story about forgiveness and he is one of those who need to be forgiven. Yes he was driving the car and feel asleep when the accident happened, but as lucky as he was then with not carrying any major injuries away, as unlucky he was later on with how he talks about his life and how he perceived it. And honestly, how could Callahan be mad at him when we have a scene earlier where we see him sit at the wheel with two young women in his car as well and he is pretty drunk, even drinks inside the car while at the wheel. So people being flawed is a crucial aspect in this film (except Mara's character perhaps). And being kind to those who are and forgiving them anway is the fitting consequence and one of the key messages at the very end. I must say this was a good film from start to finish, with no real weaknesses at all. But maybe also not enough greatness as I hoped it could have. Sure Phoenix shines all the time, especially in the scene when he meets Mara's character for the first time, but also when he bursts into tears near the end when talking to his group and there are references about that one moment that changes everything and how it really doesn't exist. Which is a bit of a contrast to the scene earlier on when he sees the spririt of his mother talk to him and even with how serious this scene was, there is the ending when it says he should not call her a nasty word, which is kinda humorous again. But I must admit the spirit scene, that one as well as the one with the gymnasts outside, did not do too much for me and felt a bit exaggerated. But I suppose they were included for a reason and it's a reference back to real life experiences by the real Callahan. But with how crucial especially this mother scene was for Callahan, the moment he decides to stop drinking, it was not as effective as I hoped it could be and same about the other scene I just mentioned that is referenced by Hill's character at the end. What else could you add? Oh yeah, the cartoons. Well, some I liked, some did not do a lot for me, but that's entirely subjective of course. A real laugh-out-loud moment was definitely the one quick inclusion of KKK members talking to each other how they love their hats/masks when they come fresh and clean out of the machine (that even rhymes!) and how they are all warm and fluffy. That really made me burst into laughter. Hilarious stuff and it really connected with my sense of humor. Eventually, I am afraid that this is not really a film that will make a huge impact at the Oscars, but it's a bit of a pity I guess. The script was without a doubt strong and convincing for almost two hours and proves that GVS still has it and Phoenix was pretty great. Damn, even Hill was better than in at least one of the films he scored an Oscar nomination for, maybe both, so it should get some awards attention. But hey, even if it doesn't, it's still a quality movie and I recommend checking it out. Finally at the ending of my review, let me lose a few words on the ending of the film. I liked it a lot. There are basically two frames even, one when he meets with these teenagers and makes a connection with them despite him being much older and disabled. And this was somehow symbolic for how he has a talent to amaze people quickly and how they are helping him, even physically, is what brought him back to life and when he falls after trying his best on this mini halfpipe, they are right there to help him up. And the second scene is him holding a speech as a now successful artist to many fans, but also those people who were close to him during his recovery and it's touching to see all of them again listening. By the way, honorable mentions to Udo Kier, Beth Ditto (did not expect these two in here) and Kim Gordon (reminded me of Allison Janney) playing Callahan's peers in the group. Final words go out to Phoenix though who gives perhaps the best wheelchair performance I have ever witnessed in a movie. Despite being stuck in a seat, his turn hardly could have been any more physical and he really does so much with his face, with gestures, with everything really. Pretty sure nobody could have played the part better. That's all, folks. Go see this film.