Loggerheads

Tim Kirkman's first fiction feature (following his documentaries Dear Jesse and The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me) revolves around a handful of downbeat and/or taciturn characters (with no apparent connection to one another) in three different locations in North Carolina. In Asheville, a depressed, listless woman (Bonnie Hunt) is temporarily living with her chilly mother (Michael Learned). In Eden, a flinty, middle-aged man (Chris Sarandon) and his composed wife (Tess Harper) wonder about their new neighbors and whether to invite them to church. Over in Kure Beach, a young outsider (Kip Pardue) worries about the safety of nesting turtles, and befriends a motel manager (Michael Kelly). While the links between these people ultimately prove to be important, Kirkman also wants us to notice some initial things about each character, such as a hint of bias here, or a whiff of recklessness, desperation, or denial there. A film that will amply reward those viewers who approach it with patience and an open heart, Loggerheads is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Tim Kirkman, interviews with costars Bonnie Hunt (7 min.) and Kip Pardue (7 min.), four minutes of deleted scenes, a photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid indie film.] (T. Keogh)