The Kids Are All Right

JP Liz V1

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0842926/

Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdDSqgZ87fM

It seems to be a hit at the film festivals and its got a great cast

mike65

Fecks sake I thought this was about the real "the Kids are Alright" movie!

JP Liz V1

http://oscar-watch.ew.com/2010/09/20/annette-bening-julianne-moore-oscar-best-actress/

From Focus Features comes official word that the distributor will be campaigning both of its stars of The Kids Are All Right—Annette Bening and Julianne Moore—as Best Actress.

Handsome Bob

Apparently Annette Bening is a shoe in for Best Actress, however Natalie Portman's performance in Black Swan may challenge her. Or so the American forum I'm a member of says.

the_insider

Opening October, IFI. Those I know who've seen it all loved it.

paddyismaddy

2 milfs in one film

johnny_ultimate

Anyone else seen this yet? Pretty impressed by it myself. It isn't the most original or innovative film you'll ever see or anything, but it deals with the subject matter with an intelligence that is all too rare in cinema. My favourite moments in this were when nothing was said, the absurdly talented group of actors and a great director allowing silence, lingering cameras and minute but important expressions dominate. A lot of the lessons to be learned are spoken, but at the same time a lot is left up to the viewer to interpret, and this is one of those welcome examples of faces sometimes saying it far more effectively than words ever could.

What the true strength of this film is lies in the writing. Each character is not only interesting and likable, but deeply flawed. The kids are by and large alright (although only an 'alternative' family would name their kid Laser :pac:), but the three main adults are the ones who are a wee bit ****ed up. Mark Ruffalo is perfectly cast, his character the catalyst to family turmoil. He's a genuinely decent guy caught up in a tricky situation that's out of his comfort zone. Julianne Moore and Annette Benning's comfort zone, on the other hand, is disrupted, and both have very different but equally compelling ways of dealing with that.

Lisa Cholodenko has made a film that avoids the typical pratfalls of indie films like this. It has the rare quirk and comedy cut, but for the most part the characters are the sole focus, and they radiate with genuine warmth. They may be comfortable middle class folk, and their concerns ultimately somewhat trivial, but they engage throughout. If you want a funny, thoughtful and character based drama, this isn't too shabby at all!

Hank_Jones

I really think I'm not the target audience for this film. I was bored to tears watching it, the story just seemed to plod along and I found it fairly predictable. Nearly left half way through, only reason I stayed was the matter of principal, that I have never left the cinema before the end of a film. It was as if the film started out as a short film script and was then dragged out to become a feature film.

Really wasn't for me, glad others enjoyed it though.

Skinfull

Its got the Ruffalo in it... I'd watch him read the paper

But seriously I've had my eye on this or a while. Reckon I'll catch it some evening this week.

Galvasean

I liked it, but was by no means blown off my feet by it. It's a nice little story and is very well acted all 'round. Big props especially to the kids. Kids usually annoy me in films, but not in this case.
The dialogue is very well written and well delivered, with some nice awkward pauses.
I wasn't a fan of the soundtrack. There were a few too many "this is when you should be sad" esque musical ques for my liking.
I also felt the ending was quite poorly done. One shot in particular was let linger way too long. It was the visual equivalentof being belted over the head with a hammer.

But the good outweighs the bad by a considerable margin.

A real 7/10 movie for me.

Mickeroo

I thought this was great, a really good character based drama. My only gripe was maybe

a bit more resolution in the end for Ruffalo's character

I felt we were left hanging a little bit there. I know it was more about the family getting through it but his character warranted more closure too I think.

krankykitty

Mickeroo wrote: »

I thought this was great, a really good character based drama. My only gripe was maybe

a bit more resolution in the end for Ruffalo's character

I felt we were left hanging a little bit there. I know it was more about the family getting through it but his character warranted more closure too I think.

I quite thought it was apt that

we didn't know what happened to him, given that due to his role as sperm donor, he was more or less anonymous for so many years, came into their lives, turned it upside down and then (well in my interpretation anyway) disappeared again.

I really liked this film.. was very thought provoking.

Mickeroo

krankykitty wrote: »

I quite thought it was apt that

we didn't know what happened to him, given that due to his role as sperm donor, he was more or less anonymous for so many years, came into their lives, turned it upside down and then (well in my interpretation anyway) disappeared again.

I really liked this film.. was very thought provoking.

I agree with you to a point for sure, but I guess its a testament to how good the film is that I cared enough about the character

that i wanted more closure as to whether he was permanently out of their lives at the end or not

johnny_ultimate

Mickeroo wrote: »

I agree with you to a point for sure, but I guess its a testament to how good the film is that I cared enough about the character

that i wanted more closure as to whether he was permanently out of their lives at the end or not

I agree he just sorta disappears, but at the same time this is really just the story of a family. Personally I would read his absence as a permanent or at least minor role from here onwards, and the four people who really belong in this untraditional group are the ones who shall continue on as a unit. Also, loved the scene where Julianne Moore hangs up on him with a roll of the eyes - again, suggesting he showed up, caused some trouble and then was cast out so to speak. Despite that, I don't think Ruffalo's character is a bad person by any means - in fact, rather endearing to my eyes, just a bit lonely and misguided. That's what I really liked about his character, and his bittersweet ending here is a stark contrast to the reconciliation the main characters appear to experience at the end.

It truly is quite rare for a film to feature such colourful and varied characterisation.