Despite the film only costing about $1.5 million to make (which is cheap considering it's a Daniel Day Lewis film), "The Ballad of Jack and Rose" managed to make back only about half that worldwide in theaters. Perhaps the studio didn't trust the movie enough to give it widespread distribution...perhaps audiences just didn't like it. Regardless, it turns out to be one of Daniel Day Lewis' least seen movies. And, after seeing it, I think I have some ideas why it wasn't a success.
The story is set in the 1980s. Back in 1968, Jack (Lewis) joined a commune along with his wife. Over the years, everyone, including his wife, has left and it's just been Jack there alone to raise his daughter, Rosie. As a result, they have lived a very isolated life on this island and this is now a serious problem as Jack is sick and doesn't expect to live a lot longer...and Rosie has no real knowledge or experience of the world to make it alone. So, he decides to try to make an instant family--bringing a girlfriend and her two grown boys to their home....even though Rosie has never met any of them. Not surprisingly, it's all a giant mess...and the new blended family is about as unsuccessful and unpredictable as it could be.
The underlying theme seems very Freudian. In so many ways, the old 'Electra Complex' idea comes through with this film. In other words, the father and daughter are so close that it's unnatural and there seems to be some sort of pseudosexual chemistry going on between them. It's icky...and probably made audiences feel uncomfortable. In addition, it's very hard to like the folks in the film (the possible exception being the son who wants to be a hair dresser). All of them are desperately screwed up and greatly in need of therapy...especially Rosie. And, audiences and the studio apparently realized that such a group of misfits make for very difficult viewing....especially since they are mostly unlikable folks. It also didn't help that Jack's character didn't make a lot of sense....a man made up of very few consistent values, resulting in a man who is a complete enigma.
Overall, a mostly unpleasant film about some messed up folks that leaves you a bit creeped out and DEFINITELY ill at ease...particularly as the film progresses. I don't want to spoil the film...but creepy it DEFINITELY is.
The story is set in the 1980s. Back in 1968, Jack (Lewis) joined a commune along with his wife. Over the years, everyone, including his wife, has left and it's just been Jack there alone to raise his daughter, Rosie. As a result, they have lived a very isolated life on this island and this is now a serious problem as Jack is sick and doesn't expect to live a lot longer...and Rosie has no real knowledge or experience of the world to make it alone. So, he decides to try to make an instant family--bringing a girlfriend and her two grown boys to their home....even though Rosie has never met any of them. Not surprisingly, it's all a giant mess...and the new blended family is about as unsuccessful and unpredictable as it could be.
The underlying theme seems very Freudian. In so many ways, the old 'Electra Complex' idea comes through with this film. In other words, the father and daughter are so close that it's unnatural and there seems to be some sort of pseudosexual chemistry going on between them. It's icky...and probably made audiences feel uncomfortable. In addition, it's very hard to like the folks in the film (the possible exception being the son who wants to be a hair dresser). All of them are desperately screwed up and greatly in need of therapy...especially Rosie. And, audiences and the studio apparently realized that such a group of misfits make for very difficult viewing....especially since they are mostly unlikable folks. It also didn't help that Jack's character didn't make a lot of sense....a man made up of very few consistent values, resulting in a man who is a complete enigma.
Overall, a mostly unpleasant film about some messed up folks that leaves you a bit creeped out and DEFINITELY ill at ease...particularly as the film progresses. I don't want to spoil the film...but creepy it DEFINITELY is.