Writer and Director: Jimmy Warden
Writer and director Jimmy Warden crams a lot of ideas into Borderline to the extent it is not easy to determine the nature of the film.
In the 1990s Paul Duerson (Ray Nicholson) has a borderline delusional mental disorder making him convinced it is inevitable he and singer turned actor Sofia (Samara Weaving) will marry. He is explaining this fact for what seems like the umpteenth time to Sofia’s long-suffering bodyguard Bell (Eric Dane). Unexpectedly Paul stabs Bell and enters Sofia’s house in her absence and proceeds to make himself at home before alerting the authorities to his actions.
Six months later Bell has recovered and returned to Sofia’s employment despite the obvious health risk. Sofia has a new boyfriend, Rhodes (Jimmie Fails). While in gaol Paul has befriended a pair of sidekicks (apparently American gaols do not separate men from women allowing Paul to meet the decidedly psychotic Penny (Alba Baptista)). Somehow the trio have escaped gaol (the method is not specified – it’s that sort of film) and are determined to ensure Paul and Sofia marry, no matter who gets hurt in the process.
It is possible Borderline is intended as a tribute to past films of a similar nature but there are significant differences from possible influences. Unlike Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy Paul Duerson does not seek undeserved fame but rather what he perceives as true love. Ray Nicholson’s father, legendary Jack Nicholson, gave a scenery-chewing interpretation of mental deterioration in The Shining but director Warden shies away from making a horror movie. Perhaps the most obvious influence is Jim Carey as the smirking intruder in The Cable Guy.
Director Warden takes a light approach appropriate for a caper movie rather than a thriller. This results in a decidedly uneven tone. There are moments of extreme violence, the sadistic Penny gains entrance to Sofia’s house by brutally subduing a guard and gloating over his demise. But the viewer never really believes any of the main characters are in any danger, even when someone is apparently shot point-blank in the head you know he will recover from the supposedly fatal injury.
Possibly Warden is satirising the thriller concept. The best sequence in the film involves Sofia trying to distract Penny by encouraging her to take part in an over the top duet on a power ballad which ultimately degenerates into a massive cat-fight. A traditional sequence of lights being turned on in a darkened room to reveal the villain directly behind the heroine is undermined by being filmed as a long shot rather than a close up.
Warden cannot resist over-egging the pudding. A policeman guarding Bell’s daughter turns out to be an aspiring actor who passes the time on guard duty rehearsing for an audition. So in the middle of an apparent thriller there is a soft-shoe routine which breaks any tension.
The uneven tone inevitably impacts upon the cast. Eric Dane, being under the impression he is in a conventional thriller, plays the role of stoic bodyguard dead straight. This does, however, set up one of the best gags in the film- Bell making a speech accepting his job is too dangerous to which his daughter, by this stage caked in blood, responds incredulously ‘’ Ya think?’’.
Ray Nicholson on the other hand embraces the inconsistencies in the script making it credible Paul’s mood swings are such he will marry anyone identifying as Sofia regardless of gender. Paul’s confused perception of reality is captured in a closing sequence with Nicholson switching from smirking confidence to tears then back again to smiling within seconds.
Samara Weaving is an excellent protagonist with a world-weary acceptance of incredible events which suggests the pop star has seen worse in her career.
Borderline is an entertaining film but one cannot help but feel it would have greater impact with a more consistent tone.
Borderline will be available on Digital Download from 8th September.
