Les Vulnerables
Screened Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Synopsis
War Eagle Arkansas is a touching, beautifully acted drama about a young man’s dilemma – whether to leave his family and friends for a career in baseball, or stay and redeem his struggling community. This warm-hearted, witty story takes place over a few pivotal weeks in the summer after senior year: Enoch (Luke Grimes) is War Eagle High’s star pitcher, yet he’s insecure, mostly because he has two things star pitchers aren’t supposed to have: a love of poetry and a prodigious stutter. His only friend is “Wheels” (Dan McCabe, in a stellar performance), a gawky string bean of a boy bound to a wheelchair by severe cerebral palsy. Wheels has found freedom in being completely screwed by life; he can be himself without concern for (or indeed any hope of) ever fitting in.
Pretty much all of Enoch’s spare time is spent hanging out with and helping care for Wheels, and Wheels does his share in return, even managing to hook Enoch up with a local girl and pester a scout from Tennessee Southern to come watch him pitch in the regional all-star game. It’s only too late that Wheels begins to realize that by giving his friend a girlfriend and a scholarship, he’s also given him a way out of their friendship forever. Enoch also stands unconvinced that this path is the best for him, but is too afraid to question anyone about it, least of all his grandfather, played by the always imposing Brian Dennehy. The film takes unexpected twists and turns, while maintaining a profoundly authentic human tone. Producer Insalaco appropriately calls the film “a love letter to the state of Arkansas” With Brian Dennehy, Mare Winningham, Mary Kay Place.
