The Common Case of Xavier Zipper, Preview

By Brandon Scott Wolf


The Sundance FIlm Festival has seen a lot of shit lately, but “The Common Case of Xavier Zipper” is a breath of fresh air in an over saturated film market where superhero movies and remakes rule the day. The film which takes absolutely no resemblance to an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel is directed by David Fincher and stars Tom Cruise opposite Brandy.

The movie takes place in a romanticized post World War I era Utah port town and slowly meanders its way into the present day by following lead character Xavier Zipper through a plain and ordinary life where nothing of particular excitement happens.

He marries, has three children and ends up living in Boca Raton as a retired financial adviser.

This lack of excitement is exactly what the theater-going public needs during these rollercoaster-like times. To know that someone can lead an average life is super.

The film’s minuscule 3-hour length starts with Xavier’s birth in 1918 Utah to his death surrounded by loved onesin a county hospital bed.

The frontward-aging premise is aunique twist for a sci-fi romance drama film and the overallanti-climactic feel to the entire film is astonishing.

Brad Pitt was originally cast for the lead role, but declined because he “had to wash his hair.” This was a role that must have been truly difficult for Pitt to pass up.

The overall acting quality was terrifically mundane.

The film is expected to receive no consideration from the Academy, which is a major snub, but was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for best old age euthanasia scene.

The film has not yet been released, but it is slated to maybe not hit theaters this Flag Day coinciding with a possible VHS release later that evening.