Luke
stu-kicks
CibbuanoLittle Miss Sunshine
January 28th 2007 02:16
Well, it's Oscar time, and it snuck up on me this year and I've come to the realisation that I haven't seen hardly any movies this year, so I'm now in a frantic rush to see as many of the nominees as possible. This morning I watched 'Little Miss Sunshine', at first a little reluctantly as I felt I was forcing myself to watch these films and that it might be a chore, but oh boy - it wasn't anywhere near a chore. This film was such a delightful surprise that I'm still reeling from the warm fuzzy feeling all curled up in my belly, smile and eyes.
The Little Miss Sunshine of the title is Olive (Oscar-nominated Abigail Breslin), a 7-year old girl who just might be the most normal member of her family. Owing to another girl dropping out, she suddenly qualifies to enter a big beauty pagent for little girls. Her dreams are within reach. Joining her on the road trip to California are the rest of her family, a varied and motley bunch that hits the right amount of quirk whilst still retaining the identifiable everyday-ness that makes them all too familiar to us. There's her father (Greg Kinnear, perfectly cast), the self-help guru-wannabe who (infuriatingly) believes his own bullshit about winners and losers. Her mother (Toni Collette), a wholly reasonable and supportive woman who displays much more warmth than some of Collette's previous charcterisations in similar roles. Her brother (Paul Dano), who hates everyone and has taken a vow of silence to show his determination to become a jet pilot. Her grandpa (Oscar-nominated Alan Arkin, stealing all his scenes), a sex-obsessed old man who snorts heroin. And finally, her uncle (Steve Carrell, who is impressive in a less-whacky role than usual), a gay literary scholar who recently tried to commit suicide. It's through the eyes of Frank that we're introduced to the family and their hopes and dreams.
Anyway, I don't really want to talk about the plot beyond that set-up because it might spoil all the fun. I want you to see this movie. I want everyone to see this movie. I know I probably wouldn't listen if someone said that to me, but I'm saying it here anyway because this was such a wonderful and beautiful movie (and not in a gay, arty-farty sense either). This is a movie about the lengths families go for one another. It's about winners and losers, about dreams and being yourself. It made me laugh and it made me cry, often at the same time. The ending is so awesome I couldn't stop this combination of laughing and crying, it really struck a chord with me and summed up the whole movie so succinctly and without overstatement. A lot of reviews would describe this family as 'dysfunctional', but I think that term has become outdated... they seemed entirely realistic to me. Maybe it's just me!
Recently there has been the emerging use of the word 'dramedy' to describe television shows that fall somewhere between comedy and drama. It's a buzz-word I am loathe to use, but it represents a growing change in genres and I think it reflects the rise of non-reality television's biggest strengths. I think this film exists as a kind of counterpart to this new wave of entertainment... it's very laugh-out-loud funny at times but it manages to strike an even balance with it's more dramatic or serious elements. It doesn't short-change the comedy and the story's themes remain very strong despite these funny bits. It's a bit like life, I guess. I'm very happy to see that the Academy has nominated this film for 'Best Picture', it shows that they're not always completely out of touch. I'll be gobsmacked if it actually wins though.
Go see it now!
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Comment by katyzzz
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MS Paint Art
Apart from the B/S reference you have written this extremely well. I just might go, thought it was a Shirley Temple one at first and to that I would definitely go.
Well done, haven't you found a more scholarly word than B/S yet? I do wish you would, you are doing such a good job and I feel are a basically decent kind of person.
katyzzz... many describe swearing as demonstrating a povery of vocabulary, and I would not like to accuse you of that, and I really do admire your capacity for hard work.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
To be honest, I have reigned in my swearing (on all my blogs bar one) to be more mindful of younger or more sensitive readers, but sometimes I forget myself or simply don't care to censor myself.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I was like you, not in a hurry to see this but when I did I was left smiling.
The script is exceptional and the performances all individually sore, Alan Arkin steals it for me, and Abigail Bresden brings a depth to her part that really does deserve all the accoldaes.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
It really was a great cast, wasn't it?
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
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Fat Cult
Techbreak
It's a great feeling, isn't it? When you think you'll have to suffer through a movie, and you end up being thoroughly entertained?
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Thanks for this GREAT review!
I want you to know that I will go and see it on the strength of your words alone... I wasn't going to (as the others said) it looked 'half-baked' to me, but now I am intrigued. I like "dramedy."
Well written... really well written.
Cheers
Lilla
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
What a great review. I flicked onto Dr Phil yesterday and he was talking to parents that were deeply emersed in the pageant world. It was revolting seeing them justify putting their 5-year-old daughter in competitions with full make-up, coiffured hair and vibrant lipstick.
Tracy
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life