South by Southwest premiered a great deal of movies this year. I was excited enough to get a sneak peak at this piece of cinematic gold. While some movies float on by, others leave a permanent mark. “The Beaver” is such a movie. Directed by Jodie Foster, it explores the dark side of something we thought we knew.
The Beaver is a successful hand puppet. Everyone adores him. As the narrator says, who doesn’t like a good hand puppet? We watch as the hand puppet takes care of his hand puppet family. Children play with him. He’s always wearing a smile since he basks in the warmth people show him. Of course, this framing just falls into the expectations we have for hand puppets. Puppets are supposed to be cute and charming. Being in control is an assumed expectation of being such a creature.
One night the hand puppet sleeps in his favorite dumpster. Staring up at the stars, he wonders when he’ll get some sweet beaver beaver. The smell of garbage helps him relax and rest up for another happy day. But another happy day isn’t about to happen as Mel Gibson picks him up out of the refuse. When the Beaver realizes who picked him up, he’s worried. He’s heard horrible things about the severe anger and downward spiral Mel’s been getting into. However, Mel’s position of prominence might help the hand puppet with his own mental therapy practice.
Mel takes him to a hotel room. For a minute, the Beaver doesn’t know what’s about to happen. He’s scared. Being alone in a hotel room with Mel Gibson never worked out well for anyone. “I’m the Beaver Mel and I’m here to save your damn life” the Beaver tells Mel, hoping to prevent anything sexual from going on between the two of them. Apparently it works.
Jodie Foster meets the Beaver. The Beaver falls hard for her. He is willing to do whatever it takes to get into her good graces. Seeing she has a family, the Beaver works with Mel to try and entertain them. Mel is left in the dark about the Beaver’s true intentions to take over as head of the household. As Mel tries telling his older son about how this is a ‘fresh start’ the son calls him a nut job which confirms the Beaver’s lingering suspicions about Mel’s mental state.
Showering with Mel proves to be creepy. “It is okay” the Beaver tells himself “It’s all for Jodie”. Though he gets into a threesome with Jodie and Mel, he wants a one-on-one session with the lovely Jodie Foster. Mel brings the Beaver unbelievable wealth, instating him as the head of a major toy manufacturer. The Beaver, using his business acumen, becomes enormously successful with his idea of making a toy based off of his likeness.
Tragedy strikes. Jodie Foster bluntly states “I want you, not him” brushing aside the adorable clean-living Beaver for slovenly Mel Gibson. The relationship between Mel and the Beaver break down. No longer can the Beaver tolerate Mel’s alcoholism, berating others, or his habit of violent outbursts. “I will continue to fight for you because I love you.” Jodie Foster exclaims to Mel, not the Beaver who works weekends at a soup kitchen. No, she wants the vain, indulgent, and prejudiced Mel Gibson. After so much belittlement at the hands of Mel, along with Mel’s constant perverted requests to ‘chop down his wood’ (a Beaver euphemism) the Beaver nearly gives up on this Hollywood loser. The Beaver becomes clinically depressed and begins drinking heavily. His hand puppet beaver family no longer recognizes him. Finally, after a violent confrontation with Mel, the two realize they need each other.
How they reconnect with each other and the world at large makes this one of the most inspiring movies of the year. Easily this is one of Mel Gibson’s best movies.