‘Jules’ review: Ben Kingsley finds solace in aging with a little help from space in sweet ‘Cocoon’ dramedy – Sonoma Film Festival

In 1982, the same year, Sir Ben Kingsley won his Oscar for Best Actor GandhiThe other big movie of the year was Steven Spielberg’s ET: The Stranger. Now, 40 years later, Kingsley has found his own ET, Sort of a combination of these classics with a bit cocoonand maybe The father. But JulesWith its own sweet rhythm and its world premiere at the Sonoma Film Festival, the new drama is another theatrical effort to bring older adult audiences back to theaters. A smart distributor needs to look closely.

Directed by veteran producer-director Marc Turtletaub and written by Gavin Steckler, this light but engaging, even quirky little film is a crowd-pleaser, giving Kingsley a role that fits like a glove and one we haven’t seen much of. do not have. especially with a full head of hair. Here he plays Milton, a retired small-town American whose memory seems to be failing him. A widower who defiantly lives alone, has no retirement home of his own, regularly turns up for council meetings and has a daughter Denise (Zoe Winters) who is increasingly worried about his mental well-being.

One day a spaceship crashes in his backyard and he is confronted with the sight of an injured young alien. At first he freaks out on his way to find ways to bring this little spaceman back to life, so to speak, especially when he comes across apples as the only food that breaks down the alien. Of course, this far-fetched incident doesn’t help convince Denise or anyone else that once they learn of Milton’s “big” story, he won’t just freak out. But soon an elderly neighbor, Sandy (Harriett Sansom Harris), snoops around his house and sees his new companion.

She tries to help them both befriend the stranger they now call Jules (Jade Quon, in a beautifully ethereal version) and keeps everything a secret until now. other Older neighbor Joyce (Jane Curtain) also understands what’s going on at Milton’s. This trio must now find a way to help Jules (or Gary, as Joyce prefers to call him) return home. But first they have to find a way to fix his spaceship, and the recipe involves dead cats (that’s the weird thing).

A simple story with a sci-fi twist that allows you to explore the pitfalls and poignancy of growing old with dignity intact, maybe not as poignant as it used to be, but still finding meaning in life – that’s what Jules It just passes. Kingsley brings poignant authenticity to the role and never overdoes a single moment in a film that flows easily and eventually comes to the right conclusion.

Somehow it reminds of a wonderful film by Paul Mazursky, Harry and Tony, which won Art Carney an Oscar in 1974 and covered an aging man’s journey with his cat. There are cats in this storyline, but Milton’s journey is clearly with Jules, and it’s an unforgettable journey made even better with pros like Harris and Curtain. When you have a cast this good, it’s going to be hard to screw up, and Turtletaub has just the right tone to make it all work. Of course, a master like Sir Ben doesn’t hurt the cause.

Turtletaub, Alex Turtletaub, Michael B. Clark, Debbie Liebling and Andy Daly are producers. Volker Bertelmann, who won an Oscar a few days ago for his beautiful film music No news from the western front offers the perfect bittersweet music to help create Jules that’s the bit of fun.