"Tollbooth" (1994)




STAFF: Written and Directed by Salome Breziner,Music by Adam Gorgoni, Director of Photography : Henry Vargas
CAST: Lenny Von Dohlen (Jack),Fairuza Balk (Doris), Louise Fletcher (Lilian), Will Patton (Dash), Seymore Cassel (Larry / Leon)

In this film, Lenny plays a tollbooth operator called Jack in a small town in Florida. Jack starts to search the missing father of his girlfriend Doris (cute Fairuza Balk), because she told him that their future is on hold until he is back. Her father left her and her mother (Louise Fletcher) on her birthday 15 years ago, and they still believe he will come back home. Soon the father appears at Jack's tollbooth, but Jack accidentally kills him. Jack's best friend, Dash (Will Patton), decides to help Jack to cover the accident by an extraordinary way....

I do not think I could understand the film because of my language problem, but I felt "Tollbooth" is very much alike David Lynch's "Blue Velvet." It is located in a dull small town in Florida under bright sunshine. The odd crimes happen in this peaceful town, human body parts(ears and toes) are used as props, and every character is a little bit weired. The story ends happily at last but, after that, something very odd remains in your mind for the long time.

Jack is rather only one ordinary person in the story, surrounded by many bizarre characters (played by Fairuza Balk, Will Patton, Louise Fletchers, etc). I think it is also very funny that he is a policeman who is a big fan of TV series "Miami Vice," and always watching the re-run in the tollbooth.

The film itself does not fit my taste (sometimes too grotesuque), but Lenny is fabulous. You must see this film if you think yourself as a fan of Lenny. He is so charming in this sensitive, shy and pleasant Jack (though that short blond hair does not suit him....)!



Some pictures from "TOLLBOOTH"
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