Movie-in-movie throws off DeLorean story
“Framing John DeLorean” takes on a juicy subject that has somehow eluded Hollywood producers for decades: the life of a calmly maniacal automaker who got caught up in a cocaine-trafficking sting during the 1980s as he chased his dream of producing the ultimate sports car.
Like DeLorean, this documentary admirably is not afraid to take risks. Its most audacious gambit is not only to use famous actors in its re-enactment scenes but also to let performers like Alec Baldwin (as DeLorean) and Morena Baccarin (DeLorean’s wife, Cristina Ferrare) discuss their craft and offer insight into their characters. This movie-within-the-movie format is delicious fun, even if it sometimes throws the overall proceedings off-balance.
“Framing” actually operates on three levels: a straightforward retelling of DeLorean’s rise and fall, which is solid; a behind-thescenes look at the making of the reenactments, which is often brilliant; and the reenactments themselves, which curiously fall flat.
One of the best moments occurs in the makeup room when Baldwin is being transformed into the enigmatic DeLorean, and the actor reveals his approach to playing the character onscreen. The trouble is, unmasking the actors doesn’t allow us to suspend our disbelief in the reenactment scenes, which are nicely shot but prove to be less revelatory than the actors’ observations.
Still, there is plenty here to keep us interested. DeLorean’s move to open an automobile plant in violenceplagued Northern Ireland is fascinating, as is the grainy video of DeLorean talking to government agents before being busted on charges of cocaine trafficking. And the observations of DeLorean’s children — particularly his downtrodden son — leave a strong impression.
But by the time the credits roll, we don’t achieve a much deeper sense of who John DeLorean really was — only a better understanding of why this complicated figure continues to befuddle screenwriters.
DeLorean probably would have preferred it that way.