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NOTES |
William Macy
plays Bill Porter who has cerebral palsy and worked as a door to
door salesmen in Portand, Oregon. Considering the status of door to
door salesmen this must have been a challenge. Bill Porter persisted
and became successful (he now sells his wide range of goods over the
internet).
His mother played by Helen Mirren later in life has Alzheimer's. The
story actually covers 40 years of his life. Kyra Sedgwick plays a
college student who helped him deliver him his products. An odd fact
is that at the time Mirren was 56, Macy 52.
Perhaps you can't put a face to the name but Macy was the salesman
in "Fargo".
He plays the part with a bent over walk, prosthetic ears and slurred
speech.
His attitude to life is "God made all of us. He doesn't make a
mistake!"
More:
Bill Porter is looked after by his mother until she becomes ill and
goes into a care home. But soon he takes her out of the home because
he considers she is neglected and he hires someone to look after her
while he is at work. Carrying the goods for his door to door sales
causes compression of his spine so he finds someone, Shelley, to
help with the deliveries. Eventually he becomes an integral part of
his neighbourhood round later becoming salesman of the year. When
asked why he doesn't collect disability he responds "I'm working".
Naturally he falls for his beautiful assistant and is downhearted
when she has a boyfriend. After his mother's death he doesn't appear
to have anyone in his life.
But the firm modernises making his job redundant. Then he walks in
front of a bus. Shelley wants him to sue the bus company but he says
it was his fault. Having broken his leg he is in financial
difficulties and he sells his house in an agreement by which it is
leased back to him. When he discovers that it is Shelley who bought
the house he moves out refusing her 'charity'. Though he has quit
his job he wants it back because that's his life.
This is a film in which everyday matters are beautifully crafted
with Macy's performance into a solid story of one man's
determination.
Heartily recommended. |
