FILM: BEGINNERS – SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL SERIES
Review By Duncan McLeod
Director: Mike Mills
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic
Synopsis: From writer/director Mike Mills comes a comedy/drama about how deeply funny and transformative life can be, even at its most serious moments. -Beginners- imaginatively explores the hilarity, confusion, and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (Golden Globe Award nominee Ewan McGregor). Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna (Melanie Laurent of Inglourious Basterds) only months after his father Hal (Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer) has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who – following 44 years of marriage – came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal’s new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than they’d ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him.
Review: Ewan McGregor seems to play the same character in each movie. At least lately, with GHOST WRITER and BEGINNERS being striking examples. He has the unique inability to connect with audiences, so when he goes in for the emotional kill, the audience is stuck behind plate glass instead of in the palm of his hand. This reviewer developed a dislike for McGregor that began with his own experiences on one of his earlier films however his work has improved since.
This emotional detachment served McGregor well in BEGINNERS. His pairing with Plummer was clever. Plummer was equally distant so neither actor overshadowed the other. Plummer was credible as the ailing father. Although we only see his character after he has ‘come out’, it would have been nice to see how he lived, as a closeted gay man, to see a greater character arc. The most ridiculous of all the relationships that was depicted here was between Plummer’s character and his much younger boyfriend Andy (Goran Visnjic). Andy was sleazy, awkward and unlikeable. His character and that of Hal (Plummer) were not suited at all, and instead of creating a warm and loving union for this ailing man, it just looked awkward and messy.The subplot relationship between Anna (Mélanie Laurent) and Oliver (McGregor) was flimsy and they seemed to drift in and out of each other’s lives without tether or conviction.
Speaking of sloppy, the time-shifting was not very well handled. It didn’t allow the narrative to flow freely and was unsettling on the audience. This made the plot feel rather lumbered and had this reviewer looking at his watch rather than being engrossed in the drama which is never a good sign.
Director Mike Mills seemed to be unsure as to whether he was making an indie movie or a commercial drama. These two themes clashed rather than overlapped. Whilst it has been said that this film was a catharsis for his own personal experiences, it offered little by way of emotional depth of feeling.
One of the genius moments was in the bond between Oliver and his dog. This telepathic dog provided much of the humour and some of the drama in the film. A tough ask for someone who can’t speak.Having experienced Mills’ wife’s film THE FUTURE during the festival, it is apparent to this reviewer that Mills has a greater talent for cinema. He is at least able to conjure up a premise that is entertaining and for the most part enjoyable.
Initially Primate thought this to be an odd choice to close the festival on, as it was such an underwhelming piece. The theme of homosexuality is strong whilst not being overtly present. This was perhaps the deciding factor in its selection apart from the fact that McGregor attended last year’s festival with another film. Sydney embraces its pro-gay stance however the Festival champions new and exciting works of cinematic art. BEGINNERS was less than exciting.
