A film that will stay with you long after the credits role, Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot is a very entertaining, emotional, and inspirational film.
“John Callahan (Joaquin Phoenix) has a lust for life, a talent for off-color jokes, and a drinking problem. When an all-night bender ends in a catastrophic car accident, the last thing he intends to do is give up drinking. But when he reluctantly enters treatment – with encouragement from his girlfriend (Rooney Mara) and a charismatic sponsor (Jonah Hill) – Callahan discovers a gift for drawing edgy, irreverent newspaper cartoons that develop an international following and grant him a new lease on life. Based on a true story, this poignant, insightful, and often funny drama about the healing power of art is adapted from Callahan’s autobiography and directed by two-time Oscar nominee Gus Van Sant. Jack Black, Carrier Brownstein, Beth Ditto, and Kim Gordon also star.”
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot follows the life of John Callahan and his true story of alcoholism that lead to a devastating car accident that left him paralyzed, and his journey from that point to finding purpose in his life in the enjoyment of his cartoons he had published. Although on the surface the subject of the film seems to be centered around Callahan’s cartoons, it holds a much deeper meaning that shakes the viewer to their very core: the horrible struggle of alcohol addiction and how it absolutely ruins lives. I don’t think the synopsis on the back adequately prepares you for just how visceral and real the film is, not being able to function without alcohol, or even waiting until you get home from the store, sneaking swigs behind cars. The film takes you into the mind of an addict and watching his self-destruction as well as his redemption.
Gus Van Sant can be hit or miss with me at times. He has a very eclectic film history, so I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when starting this. This, combined with me not being a huge fan of Joaquin Phoenix nor Jonah Hill gave me definite trepidations. However, I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed both of them in this film, especially Joaquin Phoenix. It truly may be one of the best performances of his career, with a complete transformation from the beginning of the film to the end. It has an amazing supporting cast who give equally impressive performances.
One of the things that was a bit hard to follow was the jumping around in time. In the span of several seconds, the timeline could shift from three different points in John Callahan’s life, with only his physical appearance and presence of a drink in his hand to let you know which it really is. Understanding different periods in John’s life is indeed important, especially how it relates to a specific scene and the overall narrative, but this could have been done a much simpler way to not potentially confuse the audience. In fact, the entire first act of the film is a bit jumbled and hard to follow, but understandably so, since it was that confusing, drunken part of John’s life and it isn’t until he begins AA and the 12-step program that things start to feel a bit more structured, as is the case with John’s life.
Despite these issues with how the narrative structure was laid out, when it was all said and done I really enjoyed this film. It’s a shocking look at addiction and the power that alcohol holds over some people. Even though John endures some terrible hardships in his life, he strives to improve himself, and can be a tale of inspiration for anyone struggling with something similar. True stories are always very interesting to me, and after the credits rolled I found myself researching the real John Callahan with many questions I had that were unanswered. Anytime a film leaves you thinking long after it’s over, that’s always a mark of a good one.
Video
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.78:1. This transfer looks really good, with no issues or defects noticed. The look of the film depends on the time period which is very much reflected in the clothing in each sequence. With a mostly brown hue throughout, the bright and vibrant colors become very noticeable when present.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds good, with most of the sound coming from the center channel in the form of dialogue. The soundtrack and any atmospheric effects have good levels that never drown out that center channel, so the dialogue always comes through nice and clear.
Special Features
Only a couple extras on the disc, but worth taking a look at if you enjoyed the film.
- Inside the Accident
- Inside the Hospital
- Trailers
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot will find different meanings for all who watch it. It’s a powerful and a tragic story that teaches us to strive to be better no matter what the situation.
