Go figure. I'm on track to see more movies in a theatre this year than ever before...and one still gets past me. Gotta love being able to double back on dvd.
The selection at hand was THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, directed by Lisa Cholodenko. It's the story of Jules and Nic (Julianne Moore & Annette Benning). They're a married lesbian couple who have each given birth to kids from the same anonymous sperm donor. The kids, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska & Josh Hutcherson) decide that they want to know more about their biological father, and eventually learn him to be Paul (Mark Ruffalo), an easy-going restauranteur in town.
What I liked most about the story of THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT is the way it deals with the consequences of restlessness. As time passes on a relationship, the desire for a change of scenery can become overwhelming. It happens in marriages, and it likewise happens between parents and children. Hell, it even happens when guys suddenly realize they want more fulfillment out of life.
Think about it: your husband or wife can tell you month in and month out that your circle of friends are actually self-centered dicks and shallow bitches. Chances are you'll shrug it off, or even dig in and argue. But the moment a bright shiny new friend tells you that they are bitches and dicks, you give the judgement some creedence.
Seems backwards doesn't it?
Thing is, that just because we latch on to someone different, doesn't mean we've latched on to someone good - be it a parental surrogate or a romantic fling. Where THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT won me over was in the way it dealt with the fallout from making such changes...because often times the fallout can be a bastard to figure out.
While I loved this movie as a whole, and certainly agree that it's one of the better films of this year - someone is going to have to explain to me the twisted joke of a couple naming their kid "Laser".
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Doubleback: THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
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15 comments:
Good summary of why the film is interesting. I found it unique in how it looked at love (parent, spousal, etc.) what you can do to hurt it or earn it back. I hope the acting in this isn't missed come awards season - both Julianne Moore and Annette Benning gave great performances. Every time I hear/read another review, I waffle as to which I liked better. No idea about the Lazer thing though.
I liked the film because they managed to combine drama and comedy in great balance. And generally, the depiction of family life that faces obstacles was done very well.
I really loved this film. It was also the first time I legit enjoyed Mark Ruffalo in something.
I really liked this one, too. On the subject of Laser's name, I can totally believe that Jules would name a kid Laser, but I have a slightly more difficult time believing that Nic wouldn't veto that.
Overlooked gem of 2010 to be sure. I didn't LOVE it coming out of the theater, but I'm loving it more and more as I think about it. Ruffalo's career performance alone is worth it. I hope we see saw Oscar nods here - Bening, Ruffalo, Screenplay.
I quite enjoyed this one as well, and it currently sits in my #2 slot for the year (behind Social Network, just ahead of Winter's Bone - though I fear this year will have a lot of late addition changes with 127 Hours, Black Swan, The Illusionist, and The King's Speech still on my radar but out of my reach).
Which leads me to a question. Do you have someone lined up to your end of year top 5 Matineecast episode or do I have an outside shot at making it a tradition? :P
This is one of my favourite films of the year. I agree with the commenter above who said it was a great blend of family drama and comedy. Julianne Moore and Annette Bening both better be remembered come Oscar season. Perhaps even Mark Ruffalo for Supporting Male.
I liked your summary of the film. It really is about the consequences of restlessness and sudden decisions. I thought the unresolved issues everyone had with Ruffalo's character was tragic and realistic.
I don't like how they just brushed off Mark Ruffalo's character. I mean, shit.
I felt just a little bad about Ruffalo, but because of it, it felt more real.
I just re-watched this one today. The first time around it was okay, but for some reason it got better.
I give it to Bening for making me see her point as a nagging parent, as well as the spouse who works all the time. I mean, Nic literally leaves Jules hanging in the bathroom, and I was like "well, patient is calling..."
But LOL at Laser.
I really wonder why some people say it's an anti-male movie... is it because it's two women? would people be saying we were unfair to Paul as a character if it was a dad/mom family unit?
The wife & I watched this over the weekend. We didn't like it at all.
The one thing I did like was that Lazer asked his moms the question that my wife & I had been asking each other-- A lesbian couple watching gay male porn?! Really?! Although Lazer phrased it differently than I would have.
I think what bothered me the most about the film was how stereotypically "Californian" the film felt. The organic produce, "going local," the pretentiously pro-organic friends (although I did like when Nik went off on her friends in the restaurant), a lesbian couple owning a Volvo, the Latino gardener... Could they have shoved any more stereotypes into the movie?
Oh and I thought the sex scenes with Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo were a bit overdone. We really didn't need to see THAT much of it to get the idea.
From a Cinema Blend interview:
Q. How did you decide to name the son Laser? It's such an unusual name.
A. I named him Laser after this friend that Stuart and I have in LA named Laser. Our friend in LA is named after the Biblical character Eleazer. For the longest time I thought it was a nickname--it sounded very David Bowie to me. Then I found it was a real name. For a minute I thought that is too eccentric and rarefied and we can't [name the character Laser] without explaining it. Then I thought, why do we have to?
Ahh! I hate this film more and more every day.
Sorry folks - haven't been ignoring the feedback...seems as though Blogger has been eating my comments.
@ Jess... Not sure myself which of the two ladies I liked better. Might be Benning by a nose for the way she had to wrestle with being "the strict one", and the one who gets the crummy end of the lollipop.
@ Lesya... Indeed. I think i'll have to make a point of re-watching Jules' "Marriage is tough" monologue a few more times. Seemed to sum up an awful lot of the difficulties.
@ Britni... If you liked Ruffalo in this, look for a film of his called RESERVATION ROAD. He'll blow you away.
@ Norma... Guess we have our answer on the name thanks to Joe!
@ Andrew... One thing with waiting for dvd for a film like this is fighting the hype. I was surprised how well this one fared given everything I already knew (Including stuff I'd heard on The Cinecast of course!).
@ Univarn... Look at you go with the spoilers for the year-end top list! I'm sad to say that I went another way for the year-end podcast this year, for reasons that will make more sense when the guest is revealed.
@ Laura... The only thing I wonder about is whether Moore and Benning cancel themselves out come nomination/award time.
@ Simon... Can't blame them. If he wanted a family so bad, he shoulda gone and had one of his own.
@ Amy... I never got the feeling that it was anti-male...wonder what the haters are complaining about. It's not like they care about their son any less because he's a guy...and they're open to Paul's involvement until he proves to be a massive disruption.
Anyone saying it's anti-male isn't watching it closely enough.
@ Perplexio... As Jules & Nic point out though, a lot of so-called "lesbian" porn really isn't geared at women. Takes all kinds, right?
As for it being 'California', I know what you mean...but I actually know people like this here in Toronto (including the immigrant worker). I think they're more interested in taking the piss out of any new age, alternative, organic-conscious types. Coulda put it in New York and changed very little.
@ Joe... Great research - thanks for that. You're my star commenter of the week.
@ Chase... I'm listening - share with the grooup...
No spoilers yet Mad, I've still got a LOT of movies I need to see before I finalize anything. However those kind of movies don't ever seem to make their way here until around Christmas time (if that).
@ Univarn... You need to move somewhere more "Awesome-Film-Friendly"
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