'The Yellow Handkerchief'

'The Yellow Handkerchief' (R) ***

Writer: Erin Dignam
Director: Udayan Prasad
Starring: William Hurt, Kristen Stewart, Eddie Redmayne, Maria Bello

With the passing years we forget how great an actor William Hurt is. He has lately been doing small roles in good independent films. His bravura and shockingly fierce performance in "A History of Violence" was priceless. I think Kristen Stewart has been given a bad rap lately as being a brooding and downbeat actress. There is a confidence and intelligence there that reminds me of a young Jodie Foster. It isn't her fault she is best known for her work in the preening and horrible "Twilight" movies. "The Yellow Handkerchief" tells a slow but beautiful and rewarding story and character study. It is not a totally powerful movie but I liked it and watching William Hurt act was a great pleasure. He does most of his acting with his eyes and that is sometimes one of the greatest tools an actor can convey. The story involves an ex-convict just released from prison who embarks on a road trip with a teenage loner and a young man who seems slow and strange. The movie also flashbacks to the convict and his love affair and marriage to a local woman. This was the relationship he had before he was sent to prison. What happened to get him in there is told slowly by him to his two travel companions. This movie has the same road movie cliches I have seen before but cliches can always be trumped by strong things. One of those is the acting by Hurt, Stewart, Maria Bello as the woman and newcomer Eddie Redmayne as the young man. Though Hurt comes off the best simply because he is one of our finest actors and it is a pure acting class to see him work. It is a quietly powerful performance. He is mysterious enough without seeming aloof to us and you can see why Hurt is considered one of our best actors ever. The other strength is the breathtaking cinematography by veteran genius Chris Menges. The movie takes place in Louisiana post Katrina and the movie beautifully captures the aftermath mixed with great shots of the outdoors. "The Yellow Handkerchief" is a worthwhile experience just to see great acting and if you are patient you will be rewarded with a moving story.