Marriage is hard work. J would disagree with me on that, but sometimes when I’m difficult and unreasonable and there are horns coming out of my head (for no reason), he has to remind himself why I’m his wife. Sometimes I have to force myself to tune into what he is saying because, frankly, sometimes what he’s saying is so boring (and my Command & Conquer knowledge is extremely limited). To say nothing of the fact that we have two small people we are responsible for and often find ourselves trying to find that middle ground between our parenting styles. It’s hard.And it’ll probably get harder. But we’re still here. Because I really like that moment when he steps though the door in the evenings. Because we can still find things to laugh about every day. Because all these years later he still thinks I’m more interesting than any girl he’s ever met. And because when I went total bitch this past weekend at IKEA because “I can’t believe you didn’t measure the room before we came” and I stormed away in frustration he quietly ate it while I stewed. And those things make up for the times when we make each other feel small, or forget to appreciate, or just don’t bother.
Not too long ago I overheard two older ladies talking about movies they had seen recently. “How about that lesbian movie?” one asked. I’ve heard it called that a lot. I would contend that it’s not A Lesbian Movie though; calling it such is selling it way short. It’s a Marriage Movie. It’s a Relationship Movie. It’s a Parenting Movie. It’s a Communication Movie. It’s a really, really great movie about two people stuck in a rut, and how that rut can eat away at all the things you love, and how all the things you love can also be all the things that hold you back. The Kids Are All Right is a bright and beautifully acted look at what it means to be part of a family. The ups, the downs, the relationship with your partner and kids.
In a season known for explosions, CGI overload, superheros and blockbuster sequels The Kids Are All Right proved that something different can be (really) good. A film dealing in human emotions, raw truths, and real life; it just may be the most honest film of the summer.As wonderfully written and directed as the film is the real power is in the acting. All five actors are present and invested in every scene. The chemistry between Annette Bening, Julianne Moore & Mark Ruffalo is excellent, and the younger set (Mia Wasikawska and Josh Hutcherson) are able to hold their own against 3 powerhouse actors and give very believable performances. However, as good (excellent even) as everyone is the performance of note belongs to Annette Bening. A certain dinner table scene is a masterclass in itself in the art of acting. I walked out of the cinema and one of the first things I said was “Annette Bening is getting an Oscar nomination out of that.”
I only wish that the studio (Focus Features) had made the decision to campaign for Bening & Moore as Lead Actress and Supporting actress, respectively. I understand the reasoning behind putting them both up for Lead (they are, after all, the leads of the movie and share equal screen time) but Bening’s performance is the performance that makes this film. She is the standout. She is the one that will get a nomination and it’s going to be a shame when Moore is overlooked. Maybe I’m wrong and they’ll both get a nomination? The last time two actresses were nominated for lead from the same movie was 19 years ago with Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in Thelma & Louise. In fact in over 80 years two lead actresses from the same film have only been nominated 5 times. Maybe it’s time to add a sixth.
The Kids Are All Right - 4.5 Stars
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