RSS 2.0 FeedMid-July 2011, Film
Seasoned movie-making in "Beginners"
Starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer, “Beginners” is a delightful film with moving drama, clever humor and authentic performances.
His father, Hal (Plummer) has recently died from cancer and now Oliver (McGregor) is left with the task of packing a lifetime of possessions. It’s a lot for the 38-year-old Oliver to process considering that shortly after his mother died three years earlier, Hal, who was then 75 years old, announced he was gay.
Hal’s coming out enlightens Oliver as to why his parents’ marriage was devoid of romance and how it influenced his inability to sustain lasting relationships with women. There is still a deep sadness in Oliver’s eyes six months later when he’s dragged to a costume party dressed as Freud. It is there where he encounters Anna (Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds), a beautiful, aspiring French actress, who’s limited to writing notes because of laryngitis.
There is an instant attraction between them much to the glee of Arthur, a Jack Russell terrier whose thoughts are subtitled. Despite the romantic sparks Oliver can see sadness in Anna and their bond seems a natural fit, which is given authenticity by the terrific onscreen chemistry between McGregor and Laurent. However, Beginners isn’t a fairy tale and so, just as in real life, there are bumps along the way as they try to figure out how they can stay happy.
With a commanding presence, Plummer plays Hal with enthusiastic joy when he’s finally able to live life blissfully as an out gay man. He revels in being love with a much younger partner (Goran Visnjic, ER), but therein lies the tragedy. If he had come out sooner he could have provided himself with a few more years of happiness, not to mention also for his wife, who comes across as an eccentric, lonely woman, and for his son who grew up with an absent father.
The relationship between Plummer and Visnjic’s characters is a little hard to believe, but stranger things have happened. Besides, Beginners remains a warm-hearted story instead of something overly dramatic.
On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing Beginners receives a B.
Beginners is rated R and has a running time of 105 minutes.
Now showing through July 14 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square
4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for more information.
Indie Film Editor
Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.
In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.
Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.
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