REVIEWS
Breakfast on Pluto
After Patrick Braden's stepmother comes home to find him wearing one of her dresses, she orders him to say, "I'm not a girl." Young Patrick obeys, brimming with insincerity.
Breakfast on Pluto is not a story about a sexually confused young man. Patrick, who prefers to be called Kitten, knows exactly who she is, even if the people around her have trouble getting their heads around the idea.
Kitten grows up in Ireland in the '60s, but she has more important things on her mind than the violenceencroaching on her hometown. Like many fairy tale heroes before her, Kitten has a
brutish stepmother and a resentful stepsister who do their best to make Kitten a drab drudge. Kitten leaves them behind and goes to London.
Terrible things happen in London,but both Kitten and the movie,refuse to go to pieces over these tragedies. Sections of the movie are labeled with tongue-in-cheek chapter headings,and even the direct situation may be played for humor.
As Kitten, Cillian Murphy (*Red Eye*) mumbles his way through the movie. He holds tightly to Kitten's mask of superficiality, even when Kitten is at her lowest. It's a risky choice on Murphy's part, since I imagine some people will find it
alienating. But Kitten's ditzy veneer shouldn't be taken for callousness.
Despite its tartness, Breakfast is a very sweet movie. Kitten meets real kindness in London. In fairy tales, lost children tend to be devoured, and some of the plot twists that save Kitten from that fate emulate Disney fiction.
Breakfast makes a few attempts at cynicism, but they're not very pointed.
Liberty Hall
Rated: R,135 minutes
Kit Fluker
.
***Ratent excises taxes & Spirit Fees (including USF charge of up to 2.12 % that varies quarterly, cost recovery fees up to $2.83 per line, & state/local fees that vary by area). Spirit Fees are not taxes or gov't-required changes. The Nationwide Sprint PCS Network reaches over 250 million people. Offer expires on 2/18/06 or with lastless tests. Offers may not be available in all markets and valid only in participating stores. Terms and Conditions apply. Subject to credit approval. A deposit may be required. Up to $36 activation fees and $150 homework fees applies per line. See store or sprint.com for details. Phone Customer must purchase both recharge at the same time in one transaction. Total savings may not exceed purchase price. Mall in rebate. Allow 12 weeks after phone service, activation and mailing at a complete and valid reform form to receive recharge check. Rebuild form must be postmarked by March 4, 2008. Does not include taxes and/or shipping or handling fees. Sales tax is calculated before minutes. A majority of minutes may not be used while roaming off of the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network. 2006 Sprint Nexxt. All rights reserved. SPRTIN, the "Going Forward" logo, the NETEL name and logo, the Focus on Driving and other trademarks are trademarks of SPRTIN Nexxt. All third-party products or service names are property of their respective owners. All right reserved."
22> JAYPLAY 02.16.2006