Off the Map loses its way

This is looking like a strong year for actress Joan Allen as she has two major films for 2005 with The Upside of Anger and Off the Map. The latter is less a commercial film as a character study that can’t shake its theatrical feel.

Told in flashback by an adult female, Bo (Amy Brenneman), it is a story mostly viewed through the eyes of herself as an eleven year old (Valentina de Angelis). Set in the Southwest, her parents live ‘off the grid’ by barely scraping by on modest income and surviving off the land through hunting and gardening, and oh yes, the kindness of a friend, George (J.K. Simmons). Not even possessing a telephone, they resort to a basic living situation and haven’t paid taxes in seven years. Led by a resourceful mother, Arlene (Joan Allen), the family must deal with the recent, unshakable depression of the father, Charley (Sam Elliott).

One day, a stranger visits from the IRS and his appearance will forever affect the family and himself in years to come. As the family attempts to cope with Charley’s silence and inaction, the taxman, William Gibbs (Jim True-Frost), begins to understand these simple people, and he eventually learns to admire them. Young Bo, who is a bright and clever girl, eagerly yearns for a life beyond her limited world. This group of damaged souls struggle through their emotions amid the painted landscape.

Adapted from her own play, writer Joan Ackerman just doesn’t break free from the theatrical confines of her material. Although the seductive, natural scenery makes for almost a character unto itself, the film still feels stagy. The storyline is not structured in linear fashion which can be frustrating to an audience. It is essentially an experimental character study. Even the characters are such a pathetically sad bunch to the point of making one feel sorry for them. Talk about depression!

It’s too bad, because some decent performances are lost in the randomness of the plot. They deserve better. Stronger direction (by director Campbell Scott) and improved pacing would have helped. Sam Elliott, who has been sorely underutilized in film (We Were Soldier, The Contender), has the unfortunate task of being nearly catatonic through much of the story. Joan Allen shows good range and nearly escapes the film unscathed. Jim True-Frost performs adequately As the taxman but does not have that extra magic for what is essentially a catalyst type of role. Valentina de Angelis is a child of talent worth noting. Her character may be the most developed as we learn her desires and fears. Young Bo is so resourceful, she even gets free food and products through her aggressive complaint-mailing campaign to manufacturers. And wait until you see what she ultimately does with a certain credit card.

In the end, we don’t care about these folks as much as we would like or should, and that’s a shame. Audiences are likely to be turned off by the random nature of this film and its unhappy denizens. Unfortunately, by its depiction of a sensitive subject such as depression, the makers of Off the Map may have unintentionally wreaked havoc by making the audience depressed.

**1/2 of **** stars