I was a bit apprehensive about seeing this film, due to the mixed reviews and my current dislike of Jennifer Aniston as a result of what, to me, seems like unnecessary over exposure. However, I love Catherine Keener and Joan Cusak and decided to go ahead and see the film anyway. I am very glad I have done so.
First of all I'd like to say that I think this case is a classic example of how reviews can really hurt a film. It's best to see this movie without reading prior reviews because they will taint the way you see it and influence your own opinions on it. When it was first released the Director was praised as "a female Woody Allen." Keep in mind she did not say that she was a "female woody Allen" this is a label someone else put on her, so of course when the film debuted and it had this buzz around it people reacted negatively because they were expecting Annie Hall or Hannah and Her Sisters and got something completely different. While I think the director is good, she is no Woody Allen, not yet, but does hold a lot of promise.
This film is about four friends. Three are well off and married, and the other is single, not so well off, and working as a maid. The richest friend seems to have the best marriage, spends her days as a housewife, and her biggest concern is that her small son might be gay. One works as a writer on what we assume to be a sitcom, and her marriage is on the rocks. The other seems to be going through some kind of personal crisis and this is evident through her lack of personal hygiene, which becomes a kind of running joke.
I would have liked more back story and character development in this film. For example, it doesn't really explain how the main women became friends, but does hint that if they were to meet under their current circumstances they might not necessarily become friends.
All this aside - the movie is enjoyable. It seems to be the perfect length. I found myself not wanting the film to end, as I wanted to know more and see what was going to happen with this group of women, however the ending does resolve some main issues presented in the story and I found the ending satisfactory. It's definitely worth a watch for the dynamic of friendships among women. It's like Sex and the City except 3/4 of the girls are married and not as funny. It's interesting to see a glimpse into a society of wealth and money that most of us are not privy too, and I think the director handled this aspect particularly well.
On an ending note, Jennifer Aniston's performance was satisfactory. She is not as despondent as she was in The Good Girl or as cheery on Friends, but a more annoyed, grounded, real woman in this movie. Someone we can imagine has dirty fingernails. The realism of her character was what struck me the most. Especially how she stalks her old lover and frequents High-End Department stores for the free samples. It is a side of her we have not seen before and she takes all the romance out of her character and makes her seem very real, like someone we all know (or maybe even ourselves). But, like others have said, Frances McDormand totally steals the show. Her cynical and angry character is very engrossing, and I almost wish she had more scenes. Catherine Keener also isn't the film as much as I would have liked but she does an excellent job playing an oblivious woman who is more apt to point out others problems than her own.
All in all, definitely worth a watch. Not exactly thought provoking or moving, but entertaining. Might not be an Annie Hall but definitely better than Melinda and Melinda.
First of all I'd like to say that I think this case is a classic example of how reviews can really hurt a film. It's best to see this movie without reading prior reviews because they will taint the way you see it and influence your own opinions on it. When it was first released the Director was praised as "a female Woody Allen." Keep in mind she did not say that she was a "female woody Allen" this is a label someone else put on her, so of course when the film debuted and it had this buzz around it people reacted negatively because they were expecting Annie Hall or Hannah and Her Sisters and got something completely different. While I think the director is good, she is no Woody Allen, not yet, but does hold a lot of promise.
This film is about four friends. Three are well off and married, and the other is single, not so well off, and working as a maid. The richest friend seems to have the best marriage, spends her days as a housewife, and her biggest concern is that her small son might be gay. One works as a writer on what we assume to be a sitcom, and her marriage is on the rocks. The other seems to be going through some kind of personal crisis and this is evident through her lack of personal hygiene, which becomes a kind of running joke.
I would have liked more back story and character development in this film. For example, it doesn't really explain how the main women became friends, but does hint that if they were to meet under their current circumstances they might not necessarily become friends.
All this aside - the movie is enjoyable. It seems to be the perfect length. I found myself not wanting the film to end, as I wanted to know more and see what was going to happen with this group of women, however the ending does resolve some main issues presented in the story and I found the ending satisfactory. It's definitely worth a watch for the dynamic of friendships among women. It's like Sex and the City except 3/4 of the girls are married and not as funny. It's interesting to see a glimpse into a society of wealth and money that most of us are not privy too, and I think the director handled this aspect particularly well.
On an ending note, Jennifer Aniston's performance was satisfactory. She is not as despondent as she was in The Good Girl or as cheery on Friends, but a more annoyed, grounded, real woman in this movie. Someone we can imagine has dirty fingernails. The realism of her character was what struck me the most. Especially how she stalks her old lover and frequents High-End Department stores for the free samples. It is a side of her we have not seen before and she takes all the romance out of her character and makes her seem very real, like someone we all know (or maybe even ourselves). But, like others have said, Frances McDormand totally steals the show. Her cynical and angry character is very engrossing, and I almost wish she had more scenes. Catherine Keener also isn't the film as much as I would have liked but she does an excellent job playing an oblivious woman who is more apt to point out others problems than her own.
All in all, definitely worth a watch. Not exactly thought provoking or moving, but entertaining. Might not be an Annie Hall but definitely better than Melinda and Melinda.
