Monday 18 February 2013

The Kids Are All Right

Of all the movies nominated in 2011 in the category of best movie, I had not seen this one and Winter’s Bone.  I am told the latter is a fabulous movie.  The Kids are All Right is definitely a good movie without doubt.  But did it deserve to be in the top 10 for 2011 as called out by the Academy?  And leave out that random, average movie called Inception? I guess I have a lot to learn about movies.

Putting that behind us, lets focus on a movie that has several reasons to watch.  Firstly, it is an awesome story / concept.  A pair of kids – Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) – are very curious to know who their father is.  Not because their father ran away or any of those old reasons.  But because they have come into this world using a sperm donor. 
 
Joni & Laser have lesbian parents – Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore).  Many moons ago, they used the sperm donated by Paul (Mark Ruffalo) who was all of nineteen at that time.  Paul had done it more for kicks and to make a little bit of money on the side.  Sperm donation was paying $100 and it was just way more cool as compared to donating blood. Paul was the proverbial wild child.
 
Now, nearly 20 years later, Paul continues to be a wild child – only that much older.  He has just started with his own restaurant along with some organic farming.  Needless to say, he is surprised to receive a call from Joni.  But he is as eager to meet them, now that he knows that he is their biological father.  Of course, this meeting cannot be free of any complications as the story unravels over 100 minutes.
 
The version of the movie that is airing on Star Movies as part of the Oscar mania is obviously heavily edited.  Even the unseasoned eye can figure out where the cuts have been executed.  So the recommendation is to buy a DVD – preferably from outside the country because it will be totally uncut.  Believe me, it will be well worth the effort.  I would be willing to take orders for delivery in August 2013 ;);)JJ
 
Don’t miss this movie because of the other reasons that the academy nominated it and I am fully in agreement.  Mark Ruffalo has always been an understated actor but he totally rocks this role.  As if it was made for him.  Annette Bening’s screen presence overshadows everyone around her – much like the character.  But for Ruffalo’s performance, the movie could have been titled – “The Annete Bening Show”
 
Lastly, and probably the most importantly, the screenplay is superb.  Just the right amount of pauses.  Just the right amount of dialogues.  Just the right number of characters with a strong emphasis on all of them.  And a lovely story to back it all up.  The Kids Are All Right is definitely the kind of movie you would want to see.  Playing on Star Movies these days as I mentioned.  7.5 on 10.
 

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