Date: Fri 08-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

Ulee-Fonda-Cameron-Playing

Full Text:

NOW PLAYING: "Ulee's Gold" Is A Winner, Even Without Help From King Cameron

By Trey Paul Alexander III

The 1997 Academy Awards - also known as "Cameron's Grand Day Out" - have come

and gone, but there's a bit of unfinished business to be done. The only

Oscar-nominated lead male performance to elude me before the ceremony was that

of Peter Fonda. That can now be rectified. Ulee's Gold , for which Fonda was

recognized, has been released on video and is currently among the top ten in

rentals... which gives me a convenient excuse to review it.

Ulee Jackson (Fonda) is a Florida beekeeper whose profession serves as a fit

metaphor for his life and philosophy. Just as bees have their hive mentality,

Ulee hovers protectively around his home, seeking no outside assistance to aid

him or his family. He is completely dedicated to fulfilling his

responsibilities as he sees them, and wants no help from anyone.

An aging Vietnam veteran, Ulee's responsibilities are a bit more than he would

like. His beloved wife died six years ago; his son, Jimmy, is a criminal now

behind bars; and his daughter-in-law, Helen, has left Ulee with the duty of

caring for two granddaughters... all this while still carrying on the

meticulous work, passed down from his father and grandfather, of harvesting

honey.

The wheels of change are set forth in Ulee's life when Jimmy begs him to bring

home Helen, who is in a drugged-out stupor and living a dangerous life in

Orlando. Ulee hesitates, but, as implored by his son, follows through and

finds that the retrieval of Helen forces him to deal with his son's shady,

miscreant pals, face some unfinished business from Jimmy and Helen's past, and

accept the assistance of his neighbor (Patricia Richardson), a nurse whose

expertise will be invaluable in helping the Jacksons get Helen through

withdrawal.

Fonda is mesmerizing throughout the film, not so much for a wealth of action

and activity, but how his economy of movement and expression allows him to

hypnotize the viewer. What's going on behind those eyes? What is Ulee

thinking? Probably best known as a hellion in Easy Rider , it is initially

amusing and ironic to hear him called "Gramps" early in the film, but Fonda

relies on so much more than mere novelty to carry him through the movie.

Just as Fonda and pal Jack Nicholson symbolize '60s rebellion in their defiant

stances in Easy Rider , now Fonda more evidently evokes his father, Henry, in

his gait. There is a faint gallantness in his step, reminiscent of the

nobility his father's conveyed in the lead role of Young Mr Lincoln . This is

crucial because without it, Ulee, and his tendency for long, still moments,

could come across as simply uncaring and coldly silent.

Ulee is a noncommunicative sort of fellow for whom talking is an excessive

activity. He's the sort to answer the phone with a low grunt, "Hmmm...," as if

the word, "Hello," had too many syllables and too many connotations he dare

not utter. For Ulee, action speaks louder than words, and his devotion to the

obligations of work and home should be enough to communicate his inner

feelings. But for a man who is physically present, his emotional distance is

yet a barrier that needs to be broken.

Ulee's Gold , written and directed by Victor Nunez, is an immensely satisfying

film that takes its time to unfold its narrative and enjoys savoring the

little details of life in the Florida Everglades. If you take the time to rent

it, you won't be sorry you did.

Ulee's Gold is rated R. There are very few violent scenes or sexual situations

in the film. It does, however, contain some, but not an excessive amount, of

profanity.