BBB
(out of 5)
Annette Bening and Julianne Moore have raised two children together and are now in for a change of pace as daughter Mia Wasikowska prepares to go to college. They’re in for an even bigger shock when they discover that their kids (Josh Hutcherson being the other one) have found out the identity of the sperm donor who created them years ago (Mark Ruffalo) and have begun a relationship with him. Family lines get blurred as the kids are drawn to this charmingly unkempt man who seems enthusiastic about becoming a father figure, while Bening resists the intrusion upon her clan with a force that sets her apart from her much more open and accommodating wife. Trouble brews even hotter when Ruffalo’s leering glances at Moore begin to be reciprocated, and from there begins a hodgepodge of sexual mess that takes the rest of the movie to sort out. Director Lisa Cholodenko gets a little lighter in this sweet, heartfelt film about a family in crisis than she has been in the past; her plot is melodramatic but rarely feels contrived, always buoyed by a bright feeling that makes it bearable and featuring enough difficult and awkwardly real moments that are practically unbearable. Bening is riveting as the put-upon member of the family who feels the weight of responsibility on her shoulders at all times, while Moore beautifully counters her as the more capricious spouse who can’t seem to pull herself together. The kids are more than alright, with Wasikowska playing brainy and bold with beautiful subtlety and Hutcherson very sympathetic as the sullen teenager who keeps asking questions without knowing how to deal with the answers.
Focus Features, Gilbert Films, Saint Aire Production, 10th Hole Productions, Antidote Films, Mandalay Vision
USA, 2010
Directed by Lisa Cholodenko
Screenplay by Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
Cinematography by Igor Jadue-Lillo
Produced by Gary Gilbert, Philippe Hellmann, Jordan Horowitz, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, Camille Moreau, Celine Rattray, Daniela Taplin Lundberg
Music by Carter Burwell
Production Design by Julie Berghoff
Costume Design by Mary Claire Hannan
Film Editing by Jeffrey M. Werner
Independent Spirit Awards 2010.
National Society of Film Critics Awards 2010.
New York Film Critics Awards 2010.
Online Film Critics Awards 2010.
Phoenix Film Critics Awards 2010.
Washington Film Critics Awards 2010.
Academy Award Nominations
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mark Ruffalo as “Paul”)
Best Actress in a Leading Role (Annette Bening as “Nic”)
Best Picture (Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray, producers)
Best Writing (Original Screenplay) (Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg)
Golden Globe Awards
Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Annette Bening)
Nominations
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical (Julianne Moore)
Best Screenplay (Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko)
