Crazy, Intelligent, Love.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. is touching, enjoyable, and genuine.  Athough a bit off-color at times, it never really resorts to crazy, stupid rom-com cliches.  It stars Steve Carell as Cal Weaver, whose wife Emily (the always excellent Julianne Moore) decides to end their 25 year marriage.  Cal drowns his sorrows at a bar where he meets smooth operator Jacob Palmer (a wonderful Ryan Gosling in a rare comedic role), who takes him under his wing.  The two actors have incredible chemistry.  Mr. Carell tones down the comedy and does exemplary dramatic work, while Mr. Gosling amps up the funny.  It's almost unbelievable that future lawyer Hannah (the quirky and terrific Emma Stone) would manage to resist Jacob's lady killer ways at all.

The cast is rounded out by Marisa Tomei as Cal's first successful pick-up after his Jacob make-over; Kevin Bacon as David Lindhagen, Emily's new man.  The Weavers' 13 year old son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) is besotted with their babysitter Jessica (Analeigh Tipton), who in turn is infatuated with Cal.  Of course, all sorts of complications, shenanigans and plot twists occur, which I will let you enjoy on your own.  All in all, a charming, non-formulaic romantic comedy that makes truthful-if-painful statements about love.

The DVD is out in stores.

(photo from Movie Poster DB)

This Film's More than All Right

The Northeast is still baking in this summer heat, so the movies are a great way to cool off. I saw the remarkable The Kids are All Right, a hysterically funny, affecting, painful yet truthful look at a modern family. Written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko (she shares writing credits with Stuart Blumberg), the dialogue is crisp, sparkling, candid, and oh-so-deliciously witty. Thank you filmmakers for your fecundity (as well as the chance to actually use the word 'fecundity' in a sentence).

The film stars Annette Bening as Nic, a physician/power lesbian type married to Jules (Julianne Moore), a creative earth mother/free-spirit type. Their picture perfect world is turned upside down when their college-bound daughter Joni (Mia Wasikowska of Alice in Wonderland) contacts the sperm donor at the behest of her half-brother Laser (Josh Hutcherson). Their biological father is the mellow Paul (the sexy Mark Ruffalo), a cool motorcycle-riding, organic farmer/restaurateur. His hang-loose demeanor draws the rest of the family in while threatening the controlling Nic. (Side note: Mr. Ruffalo was newly confirmed as the next Hulk in The Avengers movie at Comic Con. I've loved the appealing and talented Mark since You can Count on Me, but I'm not sure I see him as the Hulk. That should be interesting.)

With such an accomplished cast, it is truly an ensemble piece. There might be some award nominations in Ms. Bening's and Ms. Moore's futures. (Annette deserves one just for the scene where she is watching TV with her kids on the couch, bursts into tears as Julianne's character talks about how hard marriage is. It took all I had to control my own inclination to sob hysterically along with her.) They all gave such honest performances that it seemed like I was just hanging out with them, observing. Laughing with them, cringing at awkward incidents, getting teary-eyed at the emotional moments---it all felt authentic. This riotous, heartfelt, and genuine movie is basically about family, love, sex (there's lots of it in the movie), commitment, marriage. It shows the dramedy that goes on in every home everywhere, everyday.


(photo from filmofilia)

One Short Day

I finally saw A Single Man on DVD. (Pinky saw it in the theater.) This is designer Tom Ford's directorial debut. Based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood, it stars two of my favorites, Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Mr. Firth is George Falconer, a college professor grieving for his partner Jim (the handsome and charming Matthew Goode). It has been 8 months since the fatal accident, and George realizes he is unable to cope with his loss anymore. The movie follows him as he goes about his normal day, all the while planning that it will be his last. He is meticulous in his preparation for work, as well as for his demise.

Mr. Firth was rightfully nominated for his restrained and powerful performance. I sensed his anguish and despair when he said that looking back in the mirror staring back at him isn't so much a face as an expression of a predicament. The ever wonderful Julianne Moore is Charley, a fellow British expat with unrequited feelings for her friend. Christopher Hoult plays Kenny, a student who has an affinity for his English professor. George also meets a charismatic hustler named Carlos (Jon Kortajarena). Falconer's meaningful experiences with these people will define how his day will end.

The film is an artistic gem. The story is set in 1962; kudos to the brilliant costume, art, and set designers for their elegance and simplicity. The cinematography is beautiful, going from sepia and gray hues to warm pinks and oranges depending on our protagonist's encounters and sentiments. I found some of the shots too artsy---the slow motion views of eyes, lips, even cigarette smoke---although I did understand the purpose behind them: George taking in every detail, paying close attention to what's happening now, as if savoring it. He said earlier that everyday goes by in a haze, and decided that today will be different.

I have not read the book and don't know how it ends. I didn't like how the screenwriters decided to end the film, but it doesn't take away from the beauty of the film. The message I got is that what makes life extraordinary is the ordinary, the fleeting, the mundane. Don't they say that God is in the details? I love this voice-over: "A few times in my life I've had moments of absolute clarity, when for a few brief seconds the silence drowns out the noise and I can feel rather than think, and things seem so sharp and the world seems so fresh. I can never make these moments last. I cling to them, but like everything, they fade. I have lived my life on these moments. They pull me back to the present, and I realize that everything is exactly the way it was meant to be. "

(photo from Movie PosterDB)