Tommaso

It's not unusual when the lead actor is the best reason to watch a film and it's also not unusual when the director's hand is simply not in sight, but surprisingly Tommaso is a film that remains focused on Dafoe's work because it's evident that Abel Ferrara never seems to be sure what he's trying to say and what Dafoe expresses is the only thing that keeps you interested.

This overlong, meandering character study about an aging American actor/filmmaker living in Rome with his young wife and daughter as he attempts to build a new life in the wake of wild younger days characterized by irresponsibility and substance abuse never quite hits its stride. The film offers no definitive answers to his dilemma -- in itself a refreshingly blunt and honest characterization of his circumstances -- but the inclusion of considerable easily edited extraneous material, as well as fantasy sequences that don't always work, makes for a tedious slog, leaving the viewer waiting for something profound, moving or significant to happen that never does. Director Abel Ferrara's latest obviously is personally meaningful to the filmmaker (an attribute made apparent through the fine lead performance of Willem Dafoe), and its cinematography and production design make for a visually interesting offering. But a lack of focus, a pretentious, myopic narrative, and an overall self-indulgent approach can't save a release for which resisting the temptation of the fast forward button is indeed quite a challenge.