The Gift

THE GIFT: fireworks; sparkler; or misfire? Fireworks, fireworks, fireworks!

The multi-talented Australian actor, Joel Edgerton, has dazzled us many times before in diverse roles in films like THE GREAT GATSBY, ZERO DARK THIRTY, WARRIOR, and KINKY BOOTS. Edgerton in his directorial debut feature THE GIFT asks, "What happens when you think you are done with the past but the past is not done with you?" We can all relate to and be scared by that question. THE GIFT challenges you to ask yourself do you believe in revenge or forgiveness? If someone hurt you long ago and you ran into him by chance, how would you behave? What would you do? What would you say? Would you apologize or hope to hide the past transgression? I find the scariest story lines in film to be plotlines that are highly familiar and likely to occur in real life. THE GIFT is a true psychological thriller in the same vain as CAPE FEAR and FATAL ATTRACTION (F.Y.I. the bunny is replaced by a dog and koi fish). It is ride of twists and turns that will keep you questioning long after you leave the movie theater.

Adorably cute, Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall), a young married couple, have just moved from Chicago to LA for a new job. While shopping for items for their modern LA Hills home, the couple runs into Gordo (Joel Edgerton) a former high school classmate of Simon. Gordo tries very hard to ingratiate himself into their lives through surprise visits, dinners, and lavish gifts which eventually prove troublesome. After a series of events, Robyn slowly uncovers the truth about what really happened between Simon and Gordo all those years ago and in doing so their present day lives are changed forever.

THE GIFT makes a strong statement against bullying. Studies have proven that in the cycle of abuse, a bully is a person that was once a victim. The fear and helplessness the victim feels manifests into an angry desire to overpower another person to reclaim their lost power. We have all heard the English nursery rhyme that says, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." THE GIFT twists that phrase around and shows that words can be far more dangerous than stones. In doing so, Gordo and Simon characters blur the lines between who is the victim and who is the bully. The film's real gift is it leaves you wondering how your actions are perceived and received. Hopefully the introspection will make us all more mindful and the world a kinder place.

Link to THE GIFT film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjF5wdY8zE0