Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore) walks in park with blind Bill Oakland (Alec Baldwin).
BLIND
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
I found myself becoming fond of the film “Blind,” in which Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore give it their best try to make being blind sexy. And, Dylan McDermott makes being a white collar financial criminal into a scary, vicious thug.
Baldwin plays Bill Oakland, a novelist/ college professor, who has community service volunteers read his student papers for him at a Center for the Blind, which is where he meets Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore).
Suzanne gets 100 hours of community service, just for being married to Mark Dutchman (Dylan McDermott).
The female judge says that she does not believe that Suzanne knew what her husband was accused of doing, but dishes out the punishment anyway.
If anyone is a selfish, narcissistic psychopath, it is McDermott’s character, Mark. There is one scene in prison, where he effectively shows his colors. I was really frightened for Suzanne, when her husband, Mark, gets himself out of jail.
Never confront a narcissist about anything, because they will come at you with their teeth bared. McDermott does a great job of demonstrating this principle, while in prison.
This film tries to demonstrate that even though a man or woman is blind, they can still lead a meaningful life that contributes positively to life.
A future prospect of driverless autos could really enable the blind, who could get from place to place without depending so heavily on others.
In the film, “Blind,” Suzanne gets to know Bill, while her husband is in jail. She reads his student’s papers, looks up Bill’s novel, then visits his classroom, while he is teaching.
The major flaw of this film is too much explanation about being blind in the dialogue. The point being made is that they are just like everyone else, except they do not see.
This film would have been far more romantic, if the characters just acted out the situations. The audience gets it.
Why does Suzanne find Bill attractive? Bill gains her respect, and her husband, Mark, loses her respect. Her skin begins to crawl under the shame of her husband’s jewels.
Baldwin is drop dead handsome as a blind man. I was surprised to see him in such a vulnerable role.
Baldwin’s character is very frustrated having to depend on others, until Suzanne shows up.
In one scene, he keeps the office hot, and refuses to open the windows for Suzanne, which forces her to start shedding clothing. He also uses his novelist skills to paint a very romantic possibility of a life in France.
One of Bill’s male readers gains his trust enough to be invited to help him out at his home. This worker takes advantage of that trust by taking one of Bill’s manuscripts without asking.
Bill lost his sight in an auto crash, which also killed his wife. I got the impression that he was about to ask for a separation, when this accident occurred.
Michael Mailer (son of novelist Norman Mailer, 4th marriage) is the producer and director of “Blind.” His half-brother, John Buffalo Mailer (Norman Mailer’s son, 6th marriage) wrote the script and performs in the film. He plays Jimmy, an attendant at the Center for the Blind.
And, we also get to catch a glimpse of Baldwin’s real life wife, Hilaria Baldwin, as Susanne’s yoga teacher.
“Blind” is fun to watch, and makes it easy to understand the world of blindness.
Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore) receives a necklace from her husband, Mark (Dylan McDermott).
Dylan McDermott BIO:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_McDermott
Screenplay by John Buffalo Mailer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buffalo_Mailer
Directed and produced by Michael Mailer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Mailer
Norman Mailer Bio:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Mailer
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7/19/2017 # Blind