The Congressman

"The Congressman" (2016 release; 98 min.) brings the story of US Congressman Charlie Winship of Maine. As the movie opens, we see an incident involving crab poaching off the coast of Maine (only much later will we understand the scene's significance), and over the movie's opening titles, there is a clever photo montage of Winship over the years, from his youth to his serving in Vietnam, to being sworn in as Congressman. In the movie's 'real' first scene. Winship is caught on camera not standing up during the Pledge of Allegiance, and in fact paying no attention to it. This causes an immediate uproar in the media and also in his constituency back in Maine. Pretty soon, it becomes clear how disenchanted the Congressman really is with everything and everyone. Then a one-day trip to an island 18 miles off the coast of Maine is on his schedule. At this point we're not even 15 min. into the movie but to tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this is written by Robert Mrazrk, and co-directed by Jared Martin and Robert Mrazek (their feature debut), but I'd venture to say this movie is a labor of love for Treat Williams who plays the lead role but also co-produced the movie. Williams has had a long and distinguished career, but let's face it, it's been quite some time since he's had a lead role of this magnitude. He easily takes on the role of the frustrated and tired congressman. "I'm tired of all the BS", bemoans Winship at some point. We get ya, buddy! It's on the island that the movie finds its footing, as Winship and his aide are cut off (literally and figuratively) from the main land. At that point the movie takes on a little bit of "Local Hero" (that gem from the mid-80s, although "Local Hero" is miles better as a movie): the isolation, yet the joy of being away from it all, while "slowing down to the rhythm of the sea", as the local librarian (and possible love interest) Rae (played by Elizabeth marvel) puts it. The movie definitely picks up a notch or two when Marvel appears about midway through. But even that cannot mask some of the movie's shortcomings, including the environmental "political correctness" and preachiness, I mean this is PC going beyond PC, and then some! Also bothersome for me is that the movie is utterly predictable as to how it's all going to play out. I made a mental bet with myself midway through as to how it'd all end up, and in fact that's how it pretty much ended up... Come on, surprise me already!

The movie opened without any pre-release fanfare or advertising at my local art-house theater this past weekend. The week day evening screening where I saw this at was attended okay but not great. I can't see this playing in theaters very long. "The Congressman" is well intended and I love watching Treat Williams and Elizabeth Marvel, but the movie simply doesn't have enough to make it strongly compelling viewing. Worth checking out if you are a Treat Williams or Elizabeth Marvel fan or are in the mood for an environmentally PC and light-hearted romantic-inclined movie.