The Door in the Floor (2004) Movie Review: Kim Basinger

The Door in the Floor Kim Basinger — *The Door in the Floor* (2004) with Kim Basinger.

The Door in the Floor (2004) movie review summary: Tod Williams’ psychological family drama fails to fulfill its potential due to the filmmaker’s uneven – as in, compellingly mature, appallingly juvenile – handling of the narrative’s characters and situations. But Kim Basinger is a major plus.

The Door in the Floor (2004) movie review: A fantastic Kim Basinger is the highlight of Tod Williams’ uneven family drama

At times, director-screenwriter Tod Williams’ psychological family drama The Door in the Floor^[1] has the look (cinematography by Terry Stacey) and sensibility of a well-crafted, adult-oriented film – something Claude Sautet, Bernardo Bertolucci, or Louis Malle might have come up with a decade or two (or three) ago.

At other times, however, The Door in the Floor, like the vast majority of American movies, suffers from a condition known as arrested development.

In fact, the chief problem with this film adaptation of (the first third of) John Irving’s 1998 novel A Widow for One Year lies in Williams’ uncertainty on whether the subject of a 40-something woman having an affair with a teenager – and the affair’s incestuous overtones – should be treated with erotic seriousness or adolescent goofiness.

A similar issue derails the filmmaker’s handling of the sexual escapades of his middle-aged male protagonist. These are depicted with as much flair – or lack thereof – as what one would expect to find in Porky’s or American Pie, or, perhaps even more galling, Grumpy Old Men.

Such an approach not only throws the narrative off balance (while signaling that Williams doesn’t trust his audience), but it also prevents The Door in the Floor from becoming the thoughtful, delicately observant motion picture its makers (seemingly) intended it to be.

What’s the word for parents who have lost their children?

Set in East Hampton, a small, exclusive beach enclave on Long Island’s South Fork* (about 100 miles from Manhattan), The Door in the Floor revolves around the disintegrating marriage of a well-to-do middle-aged couple, Ted and Marion Cole, both incapable of coping with the death of their two teenage sons in a car accident.

A renowned children’s book author, Ted (Best Actor Independent Spirit Award nominee Jeff Bridges) tries to find solace in his writing, and in the arms and between the legs of numerous women.

Marion (Kim Basinger), for her part, has shut herself off emotionally, even ignoring the couple’s little daughter, Ruth (Elle Fanning).

Everything changes, however, after Marion becomes acquainted with Eddie O’Hare (Jon Foster), a teenage prep-school student hired for the summer to help Ted with his literary and household chores.

In time, Marion becomes sexually involved with Eddie, seeing him as a replacement for one of the sons she has lost. Eddie, in turn, becomes enamored of his boss’ good-looking wife.

Victims all

As mentioned further up, Tod Williams’ mishandling of the sexual elements in The Door in the Floor is a serious problem. One memorable (for all the wrong reasons) example: A scene in which Ruth catches Eddie penetrating her mother doggie-style belongs to a(n NC-17?) Laurel and Hardy flick.

Compounding matters, Williams can’t resist some unnecessary moralizing, poking fun at Ted for being a middle-aged guy who enjoys having sex with multiple partners. (Admittedly, a nude Mimi Rogers scene – she’s Ted’s sketching model – is both stylish and, for an American movie, daring. Rogers, in fact, is one of the film’s key points of interest.)

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Elsewhere, the filmmaker must be given credit for portraying his characters as neither heroes nor villains, but as unwitting victims: Ted and Marion are victims of the past and of life’s randomness; the interloper Eddie is a victim of youthful idealism and selfishness.

Ted’s and Marion’s sexual proclivities and emotional distance – from one another, from their daughter – are thus depicted as psychological wounds that have not and will not heal, though, regrettably (and in sexist fashion), Ted’s wounds make him look pathetically immature (he’s quite a bit more cunning in the novel) whereas Marion’s make her look coolly dignified. Indeed, even Marion’s use of Eddie as a comforting tool comes across as an act of (however internalized) desperation, not egocentric calculation.

As for Eddie, his torrid affair with the boss’ wife is more than just an uncontrollable case of teen lust. In his heart of hearts, the teenager does believe that Ted lacks what it takes to give Marion the tenderness and affection she craves. Who better for the job than Eddie himself?

The Door in the Floor Jeff Bridges Kim Basinger — *The Door in the Floor* with Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger.

Jeff Bridges disappoints

In order to convey the out-of-kilter inner workings of its three protagonists, The Door in the Floor needed – and got – top talent. Unfortunately, the final result has been a mixed bag.

Jon Foster (of TV’s Life as We Know It) succeeds in demonstrating Eddie’s callowness and self-righteous determination, but the other male side of the triangle, Jeff Bridges – normally a first-rate actor (Starman, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Fisher King, etc.) – overdoes the effusiveness of his sexually adventurous writer.

True, Ted Cole is doing his utmost to take his mind away from the emotional void created by the death of his sons and his crumbling marriage, but only sporadically does Bridges impart the pain that underlies his character’s outward exuberance.

Superb Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger, on the other hand, is a revelation, delivering what is possibly the best performance of her 25-year movie career – Best Supporting Actress Oscar win (L.A. Confidential, 1997) or no.

The simmering volcano underneath Marion’s despondent behavior can be sensed without Basinger ever feeling the need to telegraph her emotions to the audience. Hers is a beautifully restrained performance – without an iota of self-pity – that stands as the film’s emotional axis.

In truth, although Basinger’s role is smaller than either Bridges’ or Foster’s, The Door in the Floor, at its best, belongs wholly to her.

The Door in the Floor (2004) cast & crew
Director: Tod Williams
Screenplay: Tod Williams; from John Irving’s 1998 novel A Widow for One Year
Cast:
Jeff Bridges … Ted Cole
Kim Basinger … Marion Cole
Jon Foster … Eddie O’Hare
Mimi Rogers … Evelyn Vaughn
Elle Fanning … Ruth Cole
John Rothman … Minty O’Hare
Harvey Loomis … Dr. Loomis
Bijou Phillips … Alice
Donna Murphy … Frame Shop Owner
Robert LuPone … Mendelssohn
Larry Pine … Interviewer
Cinematography: Terry Stacey
Film Editing: Affonso Gonçalves
Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Production Design: Thérèse DePrez
Producers: Michael Corrente, Ted Hope & Anne Carey
Running Time: 111m
Country: United States

The Door in the Floor awards & nominations

The Door in the Floor (2004) received several nominations, including:

2 Independent Spirit Awards:
Best Actor (Jeff Bridges), Best Screenplay (Tod Williams)
Boston Society of Film Critics:
Best Actress runner-up (Kim Basinger; tied with Annette Bening for Being Julia)
National Board of Review:
Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking (alongside 12 other titles)