Beginners

Lynch/Fellini

What was everyone praising? I despised the hipster spirit, which caused it to be incredibly pretentious. But the biggest offense of this film was how bland it was. Everything was bland, the story, the acting, and the direction. Just, ugh!

comeandsee

i have rarely seen a film distill sadness so well. the film knows what it is to be alone, and then find someone who is utterly your other half. it knows loss, and grief and coming to terms. melanie laurent is superb, like really fucking fantastic. and the visuals are really focused. the first half was quirky funny and the second was melancholy thoughtful.

SALESK

Achieves a familial intimacy; heartbreak and humor handled deftly by Mills and a trio of top-notch actors--If it hits you, it'll hit hard. Anchored by performances of tremendous depth and emotion from McGregor, Laurent & Plummer. One of my favorites of 2011 so far.

This is Jake Kath

I know I'm late to the game, but this is a simple delight. Paced very well and some moving sequences. Chris Plummer completely deserved his Oscar.

ramosbarajas

From the beginning I felt as though it was trying too hard. It seems like a copy of recent quirky independent films, like Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine. I didn't think it was very original. The quirky structure seems too conscious, and I didn't really care for the characters. It was beautifully shot and the performances were good, but I just found it to be boring.

Matthew_Lucas

Tender and heartbreaking film about a man whose father comes out of the closet at 75 after the death of his wife. Christopher Plummer gives a tremendous performance in this at times painful and humorous ode to love and the often overlooked parallels between generations. Lovely work all the way around.

Borges

Some fine performances and a handful of truly touching moments are ill-advisedly buried underneath a mound of cloying, disingenuous fluff. At least for me it seemed so. I wanted to get behind this film, I really did.

Frankly, Mr. Shankly

Heartfelt, subtle and moving. Personally, I loved the dark sense of humor of the mother and hated the incidental music.