PLEASANTVILLE (1998 movie) 4.0****

 

       If you were told about a movie in which two 1990s teenagers (brother & sister) are magically warped into their television and become part of a black-and-white 1950s sitcom entitled “Pleasantville” might think it would be a lame idea. If you were told about a movie  where people of different beliefs clash and argue, then you would probably say so what. Now, if you were told that these two movies are one and the same, you will likely be surprised.” Pleasantville” is not just about two kids being trapped in an old TV show and trying to get out. It's really about how good or bad it can be to introduce your own values to those who hold a completely different set or none at all.. 

 

So you have Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon ending up in 1950s  Pleasantville  due to a magical TV remote control. The two explore this new world around them and find that everything is . . . perfect. It's so perfect that players on the high school basketball team can only  shoot  successful baskets. And when it comes to love, no teenage couples  make out and married couples sleep in different beds… i.e. no sex.. That is, until Reese Witherspoon changes all of that. There are no fires (the firemen only rescue cats in trees), no rain and the temperature is always a “pleasant” 72 degrees.

 

But after Reese and Tobey arrive and begin to stir up things, objects and people slowly change from black-and-white to color. Thanks to the magic of Hollywood special effects, this type of world with coexisting technicolor and black & white is made possible. The purpose of this unique color scheme is to symbolize change, the experience of emotion, and living more "colorfully."  

 

So you can imagine the conflict that arises from this. In one scene, married men get together to talk about maintaining their old-fashioned values as they watch their wives do things they've never done before. And in another scene, those still remaining in black & white commit violent acts against people and places  that have become “colored”. What happens from that point on, I won't say, but I really enjoyed and was totally fascinated by the entire movie..  This is a special “feel good’ movie.

 

Pleasantville is a great film and one that I think many people may have overlook. The cast is outstanding, not just Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, but also William H. Macy and Joan Allen as the conservative TV husband and wife, and Jeff Daniels as the wanna-be artist soda shop owner , Pleasantville is an example of what makes  movies great.  

 

Written and Directed by Gary Ross ( his first time directing a movie) who previously had written the screenplays for “Big:” and “Dave”

 

Clark

 

PS: Parts of this review I attribute to a review by “Anthony’s Film Reviews”