Sonny Burns (Jeremy Davies) and Gunner Casselman (Ben Affleck), two very different individuals, have just returned home from the Korean War. The two form an unlikely friendship, and while the world is still in the palm of their hands, things have changed–and they will struggle to find their way in life after such a troublesome journey during the war. Going All the Way is a story of two young men, with their full lives ahead of them, prepared to do anything for love and sex. They know what they want, and they know how to get it–but will they?
Going All the Way is a powerful film about the struggles of life and understanding who you are. Finding your place in the world can be challenging–and that’s what Director Mark Pellington and Writer Dan Wakefield are attempting to convey to viewers. We understand that early on, and that theme never relents, continuing to pull viewers in, resonating with them throughout. While it’s harrowing having to ultimately face your own reality as a viewer throughout Going All the Way, it’s also welcoming–and that’s what’s most prominent in this aspect of the film.
Davies and Affleck have a beautiful chemistry–like lifelong friends. This chemistry is what makes the film believable, it’s what makes the story accessible, and as the film moves forward, viewers are sucked further and further into the story. To be honest, I believe that both Davies and Affleck are simply average in this film. Their ability to convey emotion leaves a bit to be desired, and, sure, to some degree that takes away from the film. However, it’s that aforementioned relationship that makes their performances strong throughout Going All the Way. That relationship saves them through the film, and it allows the story to come to life in vivid and effective ways.
I know it’s the 1950’s, but the colors and the lighting throughout the majority of Going All the Way are drab, simplistic, and the like. These simple colors represent the static lives that Sonny and Gunner live–they represent the everyday American, sort of moving through life with a sense of purpose, but no sense of direction. As a viewer these colors calm you, they allow you, much like the characters on screen, to simply move forward, step by step, toward the finish line. The colors parallel Sonny the best, as he seems just to be present at times–void of personality and/or emotion–and viewers begin to feel that as well at times. Pellington chooses when to let viewers in and when to push them away–and these choices are brilliant. More than a lot of other films, even some of the best, Going All the Way regulates the emotions of viewers. When they need to stand back and watch, that’s what these simple colors cause them to do, and when viewers need to be fully present, immersed in Sonny and Gunner’s world, the colors shift just enough to grab them and pull them in.
It’s hard to captivate an audience, and even more so, it’s hard to captivate an audience using a story about everyday life lightly frosted with simple, dry humor. However, Going All the Way does that, it captures viewers early on using a narrator–because his boisterous yet calming voice engulfs viewers. The narrator starts this process by dropping viewers right into the middle of Sonny and Gunner’s story, and his lines are written beautifully–allowing him to say just the right things to intrigue viewers–preparing them for a normal, but passionate journey.
Going All the Way is a unique way of exploring a story about love. It’s not a love story, but just as I said, a story about love. Love is incorporated into the film, woven into the fabric of what Pellington and Wakefield have created–but it’s more a life story. It’s just about the struggles of life, and love happens to be an incredibly big part of that. Going All the Way is heartbreaking and yet it’s lighthearted. It’s juxtapositionally brilliant, and it finds ways to reel in viewers from the opening moments through its unique methods. It’s been twenty-five years since the initial release of Going All the Way, and the film still holds up. Had Pellington and Wakefield used some ridiculous ploys to bring their story to life, it’s possible that the meaning existing within this story would have petered off between then and now–but their simplistic approach allows it to remain relevant. To put it simply, Going All the Way is beautiful, a film for the ages, and one that will continue to resonate with viewers for the foreseeable future.
Directed by Mark Pellington.
Written by Dan Wakefield.
Starring Jeremy Davies, Ben Affleck, Amy Locane, Rose McGowan, Rachel Weisz, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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