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Sulty and saucy Lisa Cohen (Anna Paquin), a Manhattan
teenager, makes deals with hot math teachers Mr. Aaron (Matt Damon), and breaks
the heart of her classmates, like Darren. When the quest for a cowboy hat turns
deadly, she lies to cover up the mistake she had a hand in. Her life of ease
and entitlement becomes entangled with the fate of a middle-aged woman named
Monica, whose life is lost in a split second when the weight of her guilt
threatens to crush her. She sets out to right her wrong, even if no one stands
behind her.
Her actress mother, Joan (J. Smith-Cameron), is far more concerned
with her new admirer Ramon (Jean Reno) and her career that seems ever on the verge of a
breakthrough. She’s so wrapped up in herself that she cannot see the pain that
her daughter is in. Instead of being supportive or seeing Lisa’s outbursts for
what they are, she lashes out at the girl just as much.
The only real sympathetic ear comes by way of a teacher Mr.
Aaron, who sympathy turns into a gateway to Lisa’s internal destruction. But Damon’s turn as a teacher is far more
memorable than Matthew Broderick’s performance, as another of Lisa’s teachers.
The name Margaret, comes from a poem, which you can read
here. It’s makes a brief cameo, and there are certainly parallels between Margaret
and Lisa, but the poem is hardly a centerpiece and easily missed.
The first hour of the film is packed full of sweeping
cinematic shots, and deep lethargy for Paquin’s Lisa. Paquin at times comes
across as an unsympathetic character but is ultimately mesmerizing to watch.
And, it’s no wonder why she disconnects when all the adults around her who should
be protecting her are failing miserably on their jobs.
After all, following the horrific and bloody accident why
the hell did the cops not call Lisa’s parents? Seriously, how is it okay to let
a blood soaked teenager go home alone after witnessing a horrific traffic
accident? Her mother, rather than to telling her to just tell the truth, tells
her to think of Bus driver’s family. Seriously, going back to her day to day
life Lisa is prickly, thin-skinned and withdrawn. The guilt is eating away at
her, and you worry about the guy who was driving the bus.
Director Kenneth Lonergan takes his time displaying all of
the trauma, rage, blame, overtalking and interrupting that transform Lisa's life. It makes for a very
poignant piece. It’s not perfect, but it is heart wrenching, and at times
difficult to watch. The tone, and even the outcome are very much steeped in
reality. Nothing is perfect, and justice can be very bittersweet.
Margaret comes to DVD today.
