Jordan Bayne, The Banner

BENNINGTON - The word has not been diluted with age. Its insulting power still commands an instinctual response.

A third of the way into Vermont filmmaker Jay Craven's racially charged A Stranger In the Kingdom, a local rapscallion speaks the "n-word" into the face of the town's newly arrived black minister, and the veins of racism coursing through the pastoral Vermont town are officially opened.

A Stranger in the Kingdom is a complex and powerful cinematic tapestry, woven with the threads of realism, humor, beauty, and quirkiness and stitched tightly with some sure-to-be significant performances by a number of its cast.

The setting is 1952 in the town of Kingdom Common, a Vermont "frontier" town that is more aptly defined as an "affront"-tier town. Kingdom Common insults the law with disdain and slaps the face of its bucolic veneer with its racist treating of the new minister and his son, who are both black, and the judgemental eyes it casts upon a young, fiery French Canadian woman whose past is crafted more from assumption than fact. The pastor takes in the woman, innuendo simmers in town, eventually erupting with a murder in which the minister is charged.

The story intensifies as it progresses, with the shocking truth of the murder revealed in a spectacular courtroom culmination that is certain to earn wide-spread raves.

The directing and acting are stellar, the cinematography and Horse Flies' musical score beautiful. But then, what is one to expect in a Craven film, after all?

Newcomer to the big screen Jordan Bayne is mesmerizing as French Canadian Claire LaRivier: bewitching, hard-edged, innocent, sexy. Perfect. Hollywood take notice: Jordan Bayne has arrived!

Veteran actor Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) proves himself a sucessful leading man as the Rev. Walter Andrews, the town's moral compass, despite the noticeable lack of religion in the film.

Broadway staple Tom Aldridge gives a powerful performance as the Bible-thumping, church sexton Elijah Kinneson. His performance will become legend.

Leading man David Lansbury gives one of his most solid performances as the young, whipper-snapper country lawyer Charlie Kinneson. Unfortunately, his transformation from cavalier attorney for local outlaws to a passionate, justice-must-prevail lawyer happens far too quickly to digest.

Stranger viewers will not soon forget Vermone actor Rusty DeWees, the local-yokul, white-trash, cock-fighting Harlan Kettredge whose authenticity helps to power the film's engine of believability.

Jean Louise Kelly (a jewel in Mr. Holland's Opus, is cute as a kitten and just plain fun to watch.

Henry Gibson and Martin Sheen are delightful together.



		The Banner 'Stranger' plays to appreciative crowd by Jim Rogalski BENNINGTON - The word has not been diluted with age. Its insulting power still commands an instinctual response. A third of the way into Vermont filmmaker Jay Craven's racially charged A Stranger In the Kingdom, a local rapscallion speaks the "n-word" into the face of the town's newly arrived black minister, and the veins of racism coursing through the pastoral Vermont town are officially opened. A Stranger in the Kingdom is a complex and powerful cinematic tapestry, woven with the threads of realism, humor, beauty, and quirkiness and stitched tightly with some sure-to-be significant performances by a number of its cast. The setting is 1952 in the town of Kingdom Common, a Vermont "frontier" town that is more aptly defined as an "affront"-tier town. Kingdom Common insults the law with disdain and slaps the face of its bucolic veneer with its racist treating of the new minister and his son, who are both black, and the judgemental eyes it casts upon a young, fiery French Canadian woman whose past is crafted more from assumption than fact. The pastor takes in the woman, innuendo simmers in town, eventually erupting with a murder in which the minister is charged. The story intensifies as it progresses, with the shocking truth of the murder revealed in a spectacular courtroom culmination that is certain to earn wide-spread raves. The directing and acting are stellar, the cinematography and Horse Flies' musical score beautiful. But then, what is one to expect in a Craven film, after all? Newcomer to the big screen Jordan Bayne is mesmerizing as French Canadian Claire LaRivier: bewitching, hard-edged, innocent, sexy. Perfect. Hollywood take notice: Jordan Bayne has arrived! Veteran actor Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) proves himself a sucessful leading man as the Rev. Walter Andrews, the town's moral compass, despite the noticeable lack of religion in the film. Broadway staple Tom Aldridge gives a powerful performance as the Bible-thumping, church sexton Elijah Kinneson. His performance will become legend. Leading man David Lansbury gives one of his most solid performances as the young, whipper-snapper country lawyer Charlie Kinneson. Unfortunately, his transformation from cavalier attorney for local outlaws to a passionate, justice-must-prevail lawyer happens far too quickly to digest. Stranger viewers will not soon forget Vermone actor Rusty DeWees, the local-yokul, white-trash, cock-fighting Harlan Kettredge whose authenticity helps to power the film's engine of believability. Jean Louise Kelly (a jewel in Mr. Holland's Opus, is cute as a kitten and just plain fun to watch. Henry Gibson and Martin Sheen are delightful together.