....and both my dear wife and I thought this movie was really, really enjoyable and very, very well done. A funny and thoughtful motion picture, we got it from NETFLIX. The Link It's a very smart comedy/drama about relationships and I would rank it for entertainment and enlightenment right up there with the best of Woody Allen, like "Annie Hall" or "Hannah and Her Sisters" or "Manhattan" or "Vicky Cristina Barcelona." If you enjoyed quirky, family situation based comedies like "Juno," "Little Miss Sunshine" or "The Royal Tenenbaums" or funny/serious movies such as "The Break-Up" with Jennifer and Vince or "It's Complicated" starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin...... Or if you found resonance, value and truth in bittersweet flicks like "(500) Days of Summer," "When Harry Met Sally....," "About Last Night...," "High Fidelity" and "Roxanne"..... Or even if you've watched or would consider watching an older, sophisticated, Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn, romantic comedy, like maybe "Pat and Mike" or "Desk Set" or "Adam's Rib," should one of those come up on cable and nothing better was on... Maybe give this flick a try. This little, independent movie (which just cost 4 million to make and was originally released in only seven theaters) actually may end up as my personal favorite for this year. "The Kids Are All Right" is nominated by the Academy as Best Picture and for Best Actress (Annette Bening), Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo) and Best Original Screenplay (writer/director Lisa Cholodenko and writer Stuart Blumberg). I don't think there's much chance it'll win any of those Oscars because of the heavy competition; the best hope, IMO, might be for the screenplay. But, if Natalie Portman wasn't dancing so far out front this year as best actress, then Bening, who's now been nominated for it 4 times, would be my most certain Oscar pick, 'cause she's so good in this film and she's overdue. And, if the Academy ever gave a golden statuette for the Best Ensemble Cast, as the SAG does in its awards, then this excellent thespian group effort might have a shot there. Great acting, good screenplay, good movie, IMHO. The story happens to take place in and about a successful, committed, long term, loving, but not perfect, Sapphic relationship; however, the dynamics depicted are completely germane to any and every marriage and/or family and we highly recommend this flick to all viewers seeking intelligent, grown up, film entertainment. Your thoughts?
That's funny that you mention this Fred. Turns out I have had this DVD for a few days and didn't even realize it. I went to Netflix to put it in my queue and it said it was already "at home". Guess I'll have to watch it now.
What is the lesbian version of a ball busting *****? Because that is what I thought of the Annette Beining character. She is so freaked out that a male might bust up her domination of her family that she rides him out on a rail. I agree the acting was excellent but would single out Mark Ruffalo, who steals just about every picture he is in.
It's a very smart comedy/drama about relationships and I would rank it for entertainment and enlightenment right up there with the best of Woody Allen, like "Annie Hall" or "Hannah and Her Sisters" __________________________________________________ you must be out of your mind. Those are two hysterical classics. I will not even get into your second paragraph. This movie was avg. at best. Ruffalo was the only decent thing in that movie. I found it interesting that Annette Bening made it possible to play a character in a sympathetic situation and be extremely unlikeable at the same time. This movie is well acted but nothing more. The only reason it is nominated is because of the subject matter. Lesbian couple loves each other and can raise a family and deal with domestic issues like everyone else. Hurray, let's give them an oscar.
Didn't like this movie at all. It totally demonizes the biological father for the affair when he actually had feelings for mom #2. Mom #2 is made out to be the victim for wanting some meaningless sex on the side. Then the movie just ends leaving all these sub-plots in limbo. What was the point of the boy who liked the daughter, or the daughter's friend who had a crush on the dad, or the son's idiot friend, or the dad's jilted lover. It felt like the entire movie was just a set up for mom #1 to deliver the "You're an Interloper" line.
It totally demonizes the biological father for the affair when he actually had feelings for mom #2. Mom #2 is made out to be the victim for wanting some meaningless sex on the side. Well, his actions were a direct threat to the stability of the family and he was luring the other person into committing adultery. His actions deserved to be demonized. Look, just because it's two women (lesbians) together doesn't mean that their commitment to each other or to their family is less important or any less deserving than a hetero couple. The family unit is hurt by threats from interlopers. The two women weren't just "dating"; it wasn't just some temporary thing they were doing. They were married (or the equivalent) and this was their family that the guy was damaging. Kudos to Cholodenko for treating it the way she did.
It was well acted and entertaining but not oscar worthy. It cast a light on a different segment of society that usually doesn't get on the screen which added interest. 3 stars.
