So you are wondering what this sci-fi loving, zombie
fascinated nerd chic is doing watching a romantic, comedy-drama. I know. Not
normally something that I would sit down and watch.
I can honestly say, I am not one that likes stereotypical
things. This is not a stereotypical film. It's too artistic for that.
Starring Ewan McGregor (without his super sexy Scottish
accent..*sigh*) as Oliver, the film shows a deeply saddened man in his late
thirties trying to deal with the loss of his father Hal, played by Christopher
Plummer. So that’s what you think at first.
Basically, the film is mainly set in 2003. It introduces us
to a son who has very recently lost his father to cancer. Then, through a
series of stills and Oliver’s narration, we find out Hal was gay.
It is very difficult to put this review down in writing as
it is hard to describe the artistry put into this picture. It’s not like there
is a coming out scene per se. It’s more along the line of viewing the world
through Oliver’s memories of these pivotal moments. Please bear with me while I
try to sum this up enough for you to watch it.
As a child, nothing is as it seems. The marriage his parents
had was one of friendship and love but not a loving and happy one. Georgia knew
Hal was gay and proposed to him anyway in 1955. I think she hoped things would
change. Of course, she was Jewish and didn’t even know it until she was 13. Her
father, Oliver’s grandfather, tried to hide the fact they were Jewish and it
was something in which they were ashamed. She dropped being Jewish and he
dropped being homosexual. They got married and had Oliver.
Oliver sees his parents’ relationship differently. The
loving goodbye kisses he saw Hal give Georgia when he would leave for work were
once perceived as marital bliss. After Hal came out to his son, Oliver looks back
to these kisses with a new perspective.
Oliver is down in the dumps after Hal’s death. His friends
drag him to a party and here he meets a girl, Anna (Melanie Laurent). He then
is able to draw parallels with what he learned about love from his parents and
how he treats romantic relationships.
Since this film goes back and forth from Oliver’s youth and
adulthood, it is easy to see “why” he acts the way he does. The only time he
ever saw his father truly “in love” was after Hal found a boyfriend (Andy,
played by the wonderful Goran Visjnic) through the use of a somewhat awkward
personal ad.
To make his even more melancholy, Oliver is a commercial
artist that has been assigned in coming up with an album cover for a band
called The Sads. Talk about having a bummer kind of year.
Between the art, the fine acting, the compelling web of
mistruths between a family, the camera singling out the lonely character in a
frame and the dialogue…well there is nothing bad about this movie. It is not a
happy go lucky piece but it is comedic in parts. Of course, it’s somewhat dry
humor told in a very somber atmosphere.
Ok so I am probably writing the lamest possible review in
history regarding this marvelous film. All I can really put into words is how
beautifully done this is and art is not lost in film.
Just go watch it already. It’s not even 2 hours long. If you
don’t like it, I would love to hear about it.
