Life is Boring

Chip Godwin – 2016 – USA

Modest and intriguing indie comedy-drama written, directed, shot, scored & edited by lead actor Chip Godwin.  ‘Tenacity’ is the word that comes to mind most sharply.  Not only is it a work of love that took several years to complete, but this is the theme of the film too; the nerve to remain committed to a vision, a philosophy, even a single project, in spite of its obstacles and difficulties.  Looking a little like Eric Bogosian’s long-lost nephew, Godwin plays a character named ‘Pud,’ whose ambitions aren’t entirely clear except that it eventually becomes evident that he is concerned with poetry; (John Berryman is specifically evoked at one point).  While many actors who direct themselves are guilty of turning their work into a vanity piece, Godwin allows his character to be seen through the eyes of others more than his own; he’s not afraid to be portrayed as less-than-charming or less-than-brilliant; as more-or-less a loser in society’s eyes.  Pud’s routine revolves around the endless need to make enough money to squeak by for a few more weeks; moving into smaller spaces and selling off various possessions.  He does so with the detached focus of a squirrel collecting nuts; rarely terribly moved, surprised, angered or delighted.  The characterization is a solid portrait of a particular attitude adopted – willfully or not – by many on the fringes of show business in major cities, in this case Los Angeles; a hardness or resilience that allows one to shrug off the judgments of others while preserving a core passion to achieve that motivates and justifies everything else.  In a parallel story, meanwhile, a television writer named Tessa (Vanessa Donley) copes with a string of disappointments and frustrations in a job that – on paper, anyway – should be the fulfillment of her life’s ambitions.  Success isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be; that seems to be one of the messages of the film.  As a counterpoint to Pud’s laconic way, Tessa is bright, emotional and endearing.  It’s an intelligent and sharp performance by Donley, who steadily emerges as the heart of the film even if Godwin remains its head.  The production values are meager, but in a film like this, that’s not necessarily a detriment.  Francis Ford Coppola often speaks of his desire to make his films appear to be “made of the same stuff” as what they’re about; in other words, to achieve homogeneity between form and content.  If the theme of Life is Boring relates to the human need to keep striving even when reality fails to live up to expectations, this is borne out by its threadbare technique.  Like the main characters’ careers, the film wobbles amusingly between slapdash and professional; like someone balanced on a tightrope.  For any awkward angle or cut, there are as many moments of artistry and insight, and even a share of pleasant surprises, including a moving cameo by Dick Van Dyke.