Posted: 12/30/1999

Arlington Road

(1999)

by Kate Bishop

“Michael Faraday is a recently widowed college history professor living alone with his ten-year-old son Grant in the suburbs of Washington, DC. The death of Michael’s wife Leah, an FBI agent killed in the line of duty, continues to haunt both father and son. Michael and Grant are soon befriended by the Langs, a vivacious, All-American family new to the neighborhood. The parents, Oliver and Cheryl Lang, go out of their way to draw Michael into their lives. Soon, Grant and young Brody Lang become inseparable friends. The Faradays’ long period of mourning seems finally to be over.”
- Publicity Release for Arlington Road

A great movie to rent over the holidays is the suspense-thriller Arlington Road. This movie features Jeff Bridges as Michael Faraday, who has recently lost his wife to “the line of duty.” Shortly thereafter some new neighbors move in, with Tim Robbins as neighbor who has everything: a young son, a two-story brick house, a loyal wife (Joan Cusak) and a good job.

Next door lives Jeff Bridges, the professor of “Terrorism 101.” Thrown off balance by the loss of his wife, faced with having to raise his own son and continue on with all the typical hassles of everyday life, Bridges suffers through all the angst and questioning of whether or not he’s doing the right thing, just like everyone else. Isn’t that reason enough for a single-working-parent to get a little paranoid now and then?

The opening scene is of a young boy walking down the street with blood all over him from his severed fingers. The state of this scene seems almost lethargic, as if it were a dream. All movement is slow and barely any words were heard. Bridges notices this child and immediately takes him to the emergency room and waits for the parents to arrive.

Robbins and Cusack are frantic upon arrival, and immediately exclaim their shock and disbelief that anything could happen to their child such as this. The thought of their child playing with fireworksso close, and thus leading to the injury, is preposterous to them. Immediately they doubt Bridges’ story, even though they get along with him (he seems a decent and sensible enough of fellow).

Back home, Bridges is greeted by the waiting arms of his girlfriend/ex-student. The viewer is given a brief glimpse into his typical everyday life, including a kiss on the head for his son as he goes off to bed.

As the story unfolds, we are given little glimpses into Tim’s suspicious behavior.

These events eventually lead Bridges into some confusing territory as he tries to find out who Robbins and Cusack actually are. He never figures out everything that is really happening, but the couple is pretty strongly opposed to sharing some pretty simple information with Bridges; and they go out-of-their-way to be obtuse and outright liars about some pretty insignificant things. And you know Hitchcock’s old line about a little murder leading a perfectly decent human being down the path to lying and many other bad things.

It’s a murky trip into paranoia and fear before Bridges can learn what Robbins is really up to, and whether or not he can base his facts on supposition or mere speculation. The ride is enjoyable, pulse-pounding and keeps your attention the whole trip. Arlington Road is well worth the journey.

Kate Bishop is a graphic artist and writer in Atlanta, GA.

Got a problem? E-mail us at filmmonthly@gmail.com