On occasion a small movie is released that garners no major
attention, released to the fewest of theaters and drawing little acclaim. These
movies are quickly, if not immediately, released to disc and even there find
few people realizing what a gem they’re missing. Such is the case with ADOPT A
HIGHWAY. This film made by actor and first time director Logan Marshall-Green
is one you should seek out.
Ethan Hawke stars as Russell Millings, a man heading out
into the real world having just been paroled after 21 years in prison. Russell
was part of the program instituted under President Clinton, a three strikes
convict. His crime? Possession of an ounce of marijuana. Quiet and keeping to
himself, Russell leaves prison behind ready to face the world.
But the world has changed drastically since his
incarceration. Meeting with his parole officer he’s told he doesn’t have to
report every week, just send in his information via email. When he tells the
officer he doesn’t have an email and doesn’t understand it, he’s told to figure
it out so he doesn’t get in trouble.
Placed in a work program Russell cleans and does dishes at a
local fast food joint. He’s well-liked by his boss who wishes she had more like
him. His time off is spent rediscovering the world, shown in the film as he
attends a local amusement park. One night when she wants to leave right after
closing and he has cleaning left to do, she gives him her spare key and tells
him to lock up when he finishes and to return the key to her when he comes back
after the weekend.
He cleans, does what’s expected and his last chore is taking
out the trash. What he discovers changes his life forever. Inside the dumpster
Russell finds and an abandoned baby. With no clue who to call or what to do he
tries contacting 911 but hangs up, fearful of authority after his time in
prison. He takes the baby home, calls her Ella based on a note she has on her
and does what he can.
As the weekend draws to a close he knows he can’t take care
of the child like this and work at his job. When she falls from the bed, he
decides to take her in to child services. They thank him for doing so and begin
asking him questions about where he found the baby and how he knew her name. He
gives them the information he can and leaves, hoping to keep in touch and find
out more about Ella.
That changes when the police show up to his job. As they
question him about exactly where he found the child they don’t believe all of
his answers. This places his employer in a predicament and he’s let go. Afraid
that after losing his job and being questioned, Russell gathers his things and
hits the road, heading for Wyoming.
The description of this film would make you believe the
entire thing revolves around the baby and how Russell relates to the child.
While that is an important part of what transpires it is the journey that her
discovery causes that is the heart of this film. It’s a journey that should be
experienced rather than described and a satisfying journey it is.
What makes the film work is the combination of story and
acting. If either was weak the entire film would fall apart. But the story is
compelling as we feel for the poor soul that is Russell, a man out of time who
was imprisoned for what is now a misdemeanor and legal in some locations. His
difficulties in functioning in a world that seems completely foreign to him
makes for great storytelling and pulls you in to the humanity of his situation.
But more than that is the performance by Hawke in the lead
role. There is so much subtlety in his performance that it is amazing. While so
many names were tossed around for Oscar contention this year this was a
performance that should have been noticed. The quiet speaking voice, the
subservient behavior and the fear of what surrounds him is portrayed though
Hawke in a way that creates a character you have no choice but to feel for, to
wish a better outcome to his life.
As I said, this film played virtually nowhere and is not out
on disc. Seek it out. Stick with it and watch the journey of Russell Millings.
See the fantastic performance of Ethan Hawke that deserves more credit than a
simple release on disc. It was a movie that was more enjoyable than expected
and one that deserves to be seen.
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