Forever Lulu

Forever Lulu
By Rhonda Cluff

Melanie Griffith's exclusive Starz! production of Forever Lulu is a tragic romance. The tagline of the film says it all: "First love lasts forever." Griffith stars opposite Patrick Swayze, Penelope Ann Miller, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock from the Sun). Griffith's powerful performance carries the film, but her co-stars only add to the drama.
What impressed me about the style of the film is the way that it tells you the entire story. One example is a scene where you see a brief tender moment between Swayze's character, Ben Clifton, and Griffith's character Lulu McAfee. First, you see Ben beginning to think fondly of his old flame. In that same moment, you see his flashback of terrible times from their past. In this manner, you get to see their history together as it pertains to each scene. This style of story telling appears all throughout the film.
I am sure that anyone who sees the film will agree with me when I say that Griffith's performance was incredible. She is famous for her vulnerable, yet strong, roles in her movies. This film was certainly no exception, although I must say that I think this role was her best to date. Her character is definitely not a normal person. However, she still has the same vulnerability that any woman would in the same situation. Throughout the film, during her lucid moments, you can see her pain and regret for the way she lived her past. I call this film a tragic romance because of this. In case you have not seen the film, I do not want to give away any secrets. I will say, however, that her character put serious thought into her major life decisions.
Swayze's performance is impressive. He always seems to play a subtly emotional character. He is able to display his emotions without being overt. He is incredibly diverse with his range of facial expressions. He is the ultimate cool, calm, and collected man. This is advantageous to him in this role in that his character has a way with Lulu. Despite her afflictions, he enables her with the freedom to be herself without embarrassing anyone too much. He rarely gets mad with her, because he does not need too. He only needs to speak softly to her and reason with her, and she immediately calms down. It may not be one of his best performances, however his role compliments that of Griffith's character quite well.
I must admit surprise, but not disappointment, to the appearance of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. If you are not familiar with his name, you may remember his from the popular NBC television show Third Rock from the Sun. At first, his performance seems a bit too unemotional. Once you realize the situation that he is in, and his emotions come to the surface, you realize that detached state is very much on purpose. His appearance in the film is brief, but it is worth watching. Even at his young age, his acting abilities are developing beautifully.
Now obviously I have put an emphasis on the actors and actresses in the film. Usually, I say that the performances should not cause you lose your focus on the story. In this case, the performances were phenomenal. They did not overpower the story, because it was fantastic on its own. In my opinion, their powerful performances only serve to drive the emotionally charged story. As for the story itself, it is a romance, a journey, and an insightful tale of the human soul. It is a drama in its purest form. I suppose that it is for me anyway, because I am a romantic at heart. The story is well told, and creatively filmed. The performances are powerful, and memorable. As far as both made-for-television movies and theater bound movies go, this was one of the best dramas out there. This one is not yet on video, so if you want to see it you can check your local show times at TVGrid.com.