Review: 'Feast of Love' gets the point across

"Feast of Love" is a pretty good drama, with moments that leave a lasting impression. The film, based on the novel by Charles Baxter, from a screenplay by Allison Burnett, could easily have fallen into soapy territory. It's Robert Benton's strong hand behind the camera, and Morgan Freeman's central performance, that thankfully stop just short of melodrama.

<p class="bodycopy">The film is made up of a series of flashes in the lives of people in a small Oregon town. First up: a coffee shop owner, Bradley (Greg Kinnear), who believes love is the key to the sometimes-difficult world we live in. He has a young wife, Kathryn (Selma Blair), and, as the film opens, they seem fine. But, before long - as fast as lightning, in fact - his wife leaves him for another woman. Bradley, at a loss, confides in his friend Harry (Freeman), a college professor who has been married for years and is still deeply in love with his wife Esther (Jane Alexander, in a welcome appearance). Harry doesn't profess to know everything, but he is quite observant.

<p class="bodycopy">There is also coffee shop waiter Oscar (Toby Hemingway), who falls madly for Chloe (Alexa Davalos) the minute she walks into the shop asking for a job. The two begin a passionate and exciting romance with a hint of darkness.

<p class="bodycopy">Finally, there is real estate agent Diana (Radha Mitchell), who is having a destructive affair with a married man (Billy Burke). One rainy day, she enters the coffee shop and has a nice conversation with Bradley. The two hit it off, but the audience gets the vibe that this may end badly.

<p class="bodycopy">Burnett's screenplay isn't the strongest, and the idea that a man like Bradley, who falls so quickly in love, may stretch believability at times. In fact, the idea of leaping into something without looking fits the poor guy. But what the film is trying to say and is too difficult to show is that romance and love is ever-changing, causing people to move and change with it. Love isn't always neat; there are risks involved in putting oneself out there.

<p class="bodycopy">Most of Benton's films have been about relationships, and the director has had a great talent for guiding his actors. He gives them the room they need. Take Freeman; lately the actor has been taking on roles that have given him a wise persona. Some have felt forced, but, here, he is able to mix in a quiet charm. Kinnear, it must also be said, does some great work. The character could have easily come off as pathetic, but Kinnear makes it easy to see that all Bradley wants is to share love with someone, no matter how many times he gets hurt.

<p class="bodycopy">"Feast of Love" isn't perfect, but it does get enough of the point across that love is a tricky thing to find, to hold on to and to sustain.

<p class="bodycopy">"Feast of Love" - An MGM Pictures release. Directed by Robert Benton. Starring Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Jane Alexander, Alexa Davalos, Toby Hemingway, Billy Burke, Fred Ward and Selma Blair. Rated R.