This ‘Storm’ is a movie washout

Finally made it to the Rome International Film Festival, though I’m not sure the trip was worth the effort. Trip is the operative word, and trippy would be even better. Titled “The Eye of the Storm,” this Fred Schepisi-directed film — he’s the guy who directed “Roxanne,” “A Cry in the Dark” and “The Russia Hose” — is a glorification of bad mothering.

OK, that’s a simplification. But based as it is on a novel by Patrick White, “The Eye of the Storm” does tell, in part, the story of a woman who is the worst mother since “Monny Dearest.” Played by Charlotte Rampling, Eizabeth is a harridan personified. Her two children, both of whom are scarred adults, aren’t much better. Played by Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis, the two live out their sad lives even as their mommy faces the end of hers.

Set in 1972, the film is all over the place. It seems like a play, which is at least because the film is conceived as a movie within a play (one written and acted by Rush’s second-rate thespian character). And the acting is nothing if not over the top. Bets are that it won’t progress much past the film-fest circuit.

Which is fine because that is where we saw it. Just so you won’t have to.

Below : The trailer for “The Eye of the Storm.”