Review
Compared to your typical depressive slacker drama, James Burke's Aurora Borealis has a few things in its favor. First, it has a very specific sense of place. The film milks its icy Vikings-obsessed Minneapolis location for all its worth, both visually and thematically. There's also a very strong performance by Donald Sutherland as the main character's Parkinson's-riddled grandfather. Sutherland takes what could have been a bathetic role as a sickly, sentimental, and suicidal man and fully humanizes Ronald. The script helps here, filling in the emotional and biographical details that make this a memorable character. Juliette Lewis is also on hand, and though she can be a mannered performer, her buoyancy works here. Her one-line dissection of a believably awful Thanksgiving dinner -- "the family tension, the sweaters, the little marshmallows on the desserts..." -- is flawlessly delivered. Her high energy as Kate keeps the film from becoming maudlin. Aurora Borealis has considerable flaws. Joshua Jackson doesn't make much of a strong impression in the lead, and the ending, particularly the way Ronald's story plays out, is a total copout, negating the startling emotional honesty that came before. But the film still resonates, as Burke gets a lot of mileage out of simple, effective compositions, and fine work with his cast. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
On the DVD
Production commentary
Interviews with the cast and crew
Isolated music track
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