The latest from director Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, To Die For, Good Will Hunting, Elephant, Milk) is a biopic about noted artist John Callahan. This heavy drinker suffered a tragic accident in the early 70s while bar hopping with a friend. It resulted in the man losing the use of his lower extremities. The paraplegic taught himself to draw and write cartoons, becoming a noted artist in the Portland community. Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot attempts to capture his various struggles and view of the world.
While his art ultimately became a huge part of his life, it’s merely a sideline in this feature. The story is more about Callahan (Joaquin Phoenix) dealing with the tragedy and attempting to restart his life after the accident. A large part of his recovery involves joining a 12-step program to deal with his alcoholism. Along the way, flashbacks provide more insight into his flawed but empathetic character. While initially reluctant to take part and give up a major component of his life, Callahan is slowly converted with the help of sponsor Donnie Green (Jonah Hill) and a support group.
As always, Phoenix is completely committed to the roll, losing himself in the character’s eccentricities and alcoholism. And it’s perfectly convincing as Callahan slowly develops his style (using two hands to scrawl out a rough image) sometimes drawing things dozens of times before getting it right. The story’s attention to the 12-step program also offers some insight into the various feelings and struggles of those participating, including sponsor Green.
Still, for this reviewer some of the most interesting material occurs as Callahan’s career takes off and his work starts being published in newspapers. The images created are blunt and politically incorrect. In some cases, they even serve as an outlet of sorts for his personal frustrations. This creates complaints from readers and puts the publications in an awkward position. These segments are the most interesting in the feature as the character must deal with a different kind of adversity (although to be fair, it’s clear he doesn’t care).
It’s a well-intentioned and generally good feature. Yet somehow, it doesn’t quite connect emotionally the way it should. Personally, I think it may have something to do with the casting of supporting roles. The movie strives for an authentic portrait of a challenging and difficult figure. Yet, as Callahan goes through the tough process of rehabilitation with others like him and deals with difficult social workers and one helpful therapist, the parts are played by famous faces. In addition to Jonah Hill, other notable performers like Jack Black, Carrie Brownstein, Rooney Mara and Udo Kier pop in, decked out in fashions and hairdos of the era. While they are all fine, these bits briefly take one out of the attempts at gritty realism.
It might be my own strange issue, but it all just makes the story feel ever so slightly less authentic than it strives to be and prevented this reviewer from becoming completely invested in the proceedings. Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot is still a good, well-intentioned feature with a strong lead performance. Yet in the end, the movie doesn’t quite ascend to a level of greatness hoped for or quite matches up with some of the filmmaker’s previous work.