The Living Wake

During the pre-credit sequence, The Living Wake plays like a Guy Maddin picture as it speeds through the strange life and times of artist and author K. Roth Binew (Mike O'Connell), as director Sol Tryon combines newsreel footage, old-time cinematography, and arch narration to capture Binew's past (Jim Gaffigan plays his long-lost father). The intro ends with the revelation that the self-proclaimed genius knows the date and time of his death (a doctor who diagnosed his mysterious illness provides the facts). Binew soon joins forces with his personal assistant, Mills (Jesse Eisenberg), to hold a wake before he goes. As Mills drives him around in a rickshaw, Binew makes funeral arrangements, visits a prostitute, battles a rival, and welcomes his nanny back to town (he harbors romantic feelings towards her, but unfortunately she brings her husband, whom Binew does his best to belittle). As he finally sees himself clearly for the first time at the wake, Binew becomes a little less grating. Although The Living Wake is ultimately too quirky for its own good, the bucolic Maine setting, artful camerawork, and string-laden score are all pluses. A strong optional purchase. (K. Fennessy)