While we all know that MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS hits theatres this weekend (and I know that 98% of you are chomping at the bit to see it, and you should, and you will), there are a few other films that are truly gems on which you should cast your eye. But before getting to them, I give you a word of advice when seeing THE AVENGERS - sit in the middle section of the theater. As many of my colleagues and I learned during a screening at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the sound mix is such that if seated off-center, you miss hearing Scarlett Johansson’s dialogue.
Now, on to some of my favorite films opening this weekend!
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
Fox Searchlight has done it again and picked another winner as THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is, without a doubt, a mandatory nominee for Oscars - several! Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and more than likely, Best Supporting Actress for Maggie Smith and quite possibly, Best Supporting Actor nods for Bill Nighy and yes, Dev Patel. BEST is quite simply - THE BEST!
A visual stunner, this is a feast for the heart and the senses as we follow a group of British retirees from various walks of life who through happenstance (and scripting) make India and THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL their destination in the twilight of life. Stunning is the emotional dichotomy of this story being set in India - a land so colorful, vibrant and alive; one can see the heat and dust rise from the street and the smallest bit of milkweed flower waft in the wind - and then juxtapositioned with a group of people at the end of their productive lives, so to speak? Placing this eclectic group of individuals into this setting is as regenerative as if they were being reborn or revitalized daily at a spa.
Billed as a palatial hotel with all the amenities, our travelers find THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL to be anything but that. But one can’t judge a book - or a hotel - by its cover, and while on the outside the hotel appears rundown, neglected and forgotten (much like our little group), thanks to the eager beaver energy of Sonny Kapoor, the hotel’s owner, “Mr. Positivity” himself, we all learn that the magic lies deep within the heart, both in the hotel and each individual. An invigorating aspect of the story.
Numerous words come to mind while watching THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL - gentle and genteel, quaint, charming, lovely, calming, heartwarming, sweet, life affirming, delightful, funny, warm, comfortable and guaranteed to be uplifting, bringing a smile to your heart and soul.
I love the cast of characters and the subtle things that we learn about each as the film progresses that just keep telling us more about each of their emotionally once-rich lives. Newly widowed Evelyn who relied on her husband for everything, trusting him implicitly, now finds herself broke and alone, but willing to put one foot in front of the other and take hold of this newfound independence thrust upon her. Little details, like learning the internet and avidly reading for information, add so much to the character and the story. As Evelyn, Judi Dench shines and in many respects, is the delightful moral compass of this shining ship of fools.
The pairing of Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton as Douglas and Jean is, while familiar (they have been coupled before in films to wonderful result), interesting to watch. As different as night and day, we immediately get a strong sense that Douglas has acquiesced to Jean's domineering crap over the years and rather than rock the boat, has put up with it to the point of becoming numbing to the mind and body. Being the superb actor he is, Nighy transforms Douglas cautiously and beautifully with an ease and emotional excitement of a kid sneaking a look at Christmas packages before Christmas. Dare I be happy? Dare I do something for myself? His unspoken excitement is palpable and joyous to watch.
Tom Wilkinson's Graham, while a strong driving force as the inquisitive judge who elicits information and helps move the story along, really tugs at the heartstrings as we learn of the burden and secret with which he has lived his life. And that secrecy is a perfect vehicle for aiding in the total demise of the Douglas-Jean marriage. Wilkinson is masterful as he quietly, calmly and somewhat embarrassedly, opens up first to Evelyn about his life and who he really is, and then softly apologetically also tells Jean, trying not to hurt her puppy love crush too much.
Celia Imrie’s husband hunting Madge and Ronald Pickup's womanizing Norman add a layer of adult naughtiness. Neither wants to give up on sexual prowess, which not only provides some charming comedic scenarios, but is such an important aspect to the elder statesmen of the world today. Personally, director John Madden could have done more to capitalize on their storylines and the inherent humor of their situations to add a bit more lightness to the film.
And then there's Maggie Smith. Embodying the prejudices of the world around her for all of her life, as Muriel, Smith excels at being dower. Although in a wheelchair for 99% of the film, Smith speaks - no, shouts - volumes with her facial expressiveness. And acrid insults roll of her tongue as smooth as melted butter. Delicious. Again, as with Dench's Evelyn, we slowly learn little bits and pieces about Muriel's past. Magically, during those moments when Muriel is talking to a young Hindi servant, Smith's talents explode with wistful glances and paused, broken words as Muriel recalls memories of days gone by.
Written by Ol Parker based on Deborah Moggach’s novel “These Foolish Things”, and directed by John Madden, each character resonates with honesty and believability. Each is vital, vibrant and alive. Although the film’s set up is a bit rushed and muddled as each character is introduced as they find their respective way to India, once in India, the film takes off and soars thanks to flawless casting and performances.
Magnificent is the word to describe the visual imagery. Cinematographer Ben Davis, who just worked with Madden on “The Debt”, is flawless. The use of light and color and framing is a synergistic masterpiece that truly celebrates life, helping paint each of our principals as if butterflies emerging from a self-imposed cocoons. Stunning, beautiful and celebratory of life and the Indian culture and spirit.
Thomas Newman's score is subtly complimentary to the story, never overpowering the characters or the emotion.
The Oscar race starts now with THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL.
THE PERFECT FAMILY
And then we have a perfect little gem with THE PERFECT FAMILY.
There’s a new director on my radar named Anne Renton. Making her feature film directorial debut with THE PERFECT FAMILY, Renton is a director with a clear vision and approach to storytelling that allows performances to flow and a story to unfold and fuel itself on the everyday elements of life. And she does just that here with the Cleary family. A seemingly typical Irish Catholic family, mom Eileen is still caught up in the 70's mindset of devotion, religious tropes and trappings and the need to be “perfect” to the eyes of the world, and God. Nominated for Catholic Woman of the Year, she needs the family to be on their best behavior and mind their P’s and Q’s if she has any hope of defeating her nemesis Agnes Dunn for the award (which comes with absolution for all of her sins). But what happens when her family isn’t as perfect as she likes everyone to think?
Her husband Frank is already a recovering alcoholic, but imagine what people will say when they learn that son Frank Jr. year is leaving his wife and is having an affair with the local manicurist. And then there’s daughter Eileen. She’s a lawyer, a lesbian, 5 months pregnant and marrying her Hispanic girlfriend. The entire family is a contradiction to the teachings of the Catholic church.
As her family fractures and Eileen’s plotting and cover-up of the truth takes hold of her, can she come to terms with life and her family, and put her shame aside to be the matriarch she needs to be? Can she put her family ahead of the church and her personal gain? Can her family put her ahead of her stubbornness?
Characters are pitch perfect as is the casting. This is Kathleen Turner’s film and one of the best and strongest performances I have seen from her on film in many a day. Funny, heartwarming, poignant, frustrating, exasperating, frenetic, as Eileen, she doesn't want to see the forest for the trees. While she wants to support her kids, she doesn't know how. She never learned how because she was so caught up in the mechanics and societal aspect of the church, she forgot what the Bible really was all about. And as the story unfolds, you understand methods and manners as a means to make penance for her a past of which she is ashamed and wants to block from her mind, thus the need to be named Catholic Woman of the Year and gain absolution from the archbishop. Turner runs with the character and gets you interested and invested in her. You care about Eileen. You want to see her come to terms with life. You want to see her happy but with acceptance of others. And Turner has you laughing and tacitly nodding in knowing agreement through it all.
The familial elements that Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and Michael McGrady bring to the table as Frank Jr., Shannon and Frank Sr., are not only catalysts for Eileen's angst, worry and exasperation, but also celebratory of the love within the family. You have to adore McGrady’s performance. He is the calm in the eye of a storm (the storm being Eileen) and such “a dad”. But just wait until you see Ritter and Deschanel. Lifetime friends in real life, the two are beyond perfect as brother and sister, establishing the dynamic with only two camera shots at the dinner table - she kicks him under the table and he makes an ugly face at her. PRICELESS! But beside the sibling angst and shenanigans, there is a great dramatic bond the two have that will bring tears to your eyes. Watching these two I could only think of myself and my brother Ed. Their performance could have been lifted from the pages of my own life.
And talk about perfect casting! Richard Chamberlain is Eileen’s priest, Monsignor Murphy. You see him in vestments and thanks to The Thornbirds, one is immediately transported through time and Chamberlain is accepted as a priest, no questions asked. I did a double take with Sharon Lawrence's Agnes. She just oozes sneaky. A downside to the film - could have used more time between Turner and Lawrence as they are delicious together! And as always, Elizabeth Pena is a delight, here as Shannon’s mother-in-law.
Written by Paula Goldberg and Claire Riley, THE PERFECT FAMILY excels with its character construction. We have father and son working together as firefighters. Very blue collar Irish Catholic. A daughter who loves her parents and still honors them with the Thursday family dinners, but who has made her own way on her own terms with Dad being her closest ally set against the always feuding mother-daughter dynamic that has gone on for centuries. The staunchly devoted Irish Catholic mother rooted in the canons and practices of the 70's with her head in the sand and so wrapped up in proving she's a good Catholic by her deeds that she forgets how to be a good Catholic with her heart. These are people we know They resonate. They touch us.
The story has an easy flow with comedy organically arising, albeit fueled by Eileen. Key is that while front and center issues of drinking, divorce, same sex marriage, homosexuality are the basis for the story, at no time does the film get preachy nor malign the church or politics. Issues and viewpoints are raised just through the events of day-to-day life. Permeating the story is the thematic element of love and acceptance. Nicely crafted.
Megan Hutchinson’s production design is perfect. The Cleary house is so East Coast suburban. Dark woods, the bricked fireplace, gold velvet chairs, lacy tablecloths and doilies. The production design bodes well for simplifying story and dialogue as scenes need no set up or explanation. Just one look says it all and sets the stage perfectly.
And a nod to Andrew Kaiser's score and music selections which often feel like vintage Simon & Garfunkel. Lilting, folksy and from the heart.
THE PERFECT FAMILY - a perfect little gem of heart and humor.
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