Woe is he, or she, that goes in search of Hal Hartley, the mojo-handy director of “Henry Fool” (1997).
Conceived as an overdue sequel to “Henry Fool,” “Fay Grim” (played by Parker Posey) is quirky mother to quirky Ned (Liam Aiken), the pubescent son of literary hero and garbage man Henry Fool, who went into hiding after accidentally committing murder.
While trying to keep her son from being kicked out of school, Fay is asked by CIA officer Fulbright (Jeff Goldblum) to travel to Paris to help recover Henry’s “Confessions” manuscript now that Henry is reportedly dead.
Hal Hartley loses control of the loosey-goosey story line that dabbles aimlessly as an Irma Vep-styled action thriller.
“Fay Grim” is the most inarticulate and grueling of all Hal Hartley’s films, and a complete waste of time.
Rated R. 118 mins.
