This is what it looks like when I write a post like everyone else's.
The first two sentences of this blog is a reference to a narrative device used in Mike Mills Beginnings. The film opens on Ewan McGregor packing up things at his recently deceased fathers house. We find out quickly that his mother had died about 6 years earlier. We also find out that right after his mother died, his father announced that he has cancer AND that he is gay. He is also ready to start living his life as a gay man.
The father is played wonderfully by Christopher Plummer. He joins many "gay pride" organizations and begins going to clubs and even finds a boyfriend. I have more to say about the boyfriend later. I don't want to make to big a deal out of the gay issues. Mostly because the film doesn't. I appreciated the the film took a fresh approach to the father being gay. It was a topic, but it was not played for jokes. There was little to none of the stereotypical, over-the-top, super gay writing that unfortunately pervades too many Hollywood films. The cancer issues was handled fairly too. Having a father that just fought cancer I was pleased that they didn't use that to try and manipulate people. This is a very honest film. Much like The Kids are All Right from last year.
Then there is the Ewan McGregor character. He is having to deal with all these things going on. The movie jumps around in time, but mostly we are presented the years after his mother has died and before his father passes away. He has been unlucky in love. Unlucky may not be the right word. He is passively destructive. We spend time with his character, Oliver as he battles mild depression. He meets Melaine Laurent's character Anna at a costume party. She has laryngitis and can't talk. Can you say manic pixie dream girl?
The movie borders on the edge of indy preciousness, but I don't think that it crosses that line. Although there is a dog that has subtitles so...... I also like that device that I badly stole at the beginning of this blog. It could come off as quirky and artsy fartsy, but I thought it was a great way of presenting back story and character development and motivation.
Now about the boyfriend. I really don't know how to feel about this guy. He seems very child like and immature. I am not sure if that is a result of being cast against Christopher Plummer or if the role was written that way. It made me really dislike him. Also he was overly assertive and defensive about his sexual orientation. I think he was being shown as a character that was not comfortable in his skin, but I'm not sure. I don't know what the writer / director was trying to portray with this character. I won't that he wasn't effective because I still enjoy pondering this character. I would love to have a conversation about his role.
I enjoyed Beginners very much and I look forward to seeing what Mike Mills has in store next. Also this is a great soundtrack with classic American tunes. I give Beginners ★★★★.
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