I miss my dad. But although I wrote a little piece about him when he died, less than two years ago, I doubt I'll ever be able to create the kind of transcendent tribute to my father that Mike Mills has given his, in his wonderful film, Beginners.
Beginners is all kinds of love stories: the love between a son and his dad, dad and his wife, dad and his male lover, dad and his dog, between the dog and the dad's boyfriend and his son and the new lover that the son finds, in the midst of his mourning. It's all very complicated and not at all, simultaneously - in other words, much like life as we actually live it.
By media or word-of-mouth, you may have gathered the gist of the main plot, which is about a son learning that his dad is gay, shortly before they both discover that Dad has cancer. That the movie is as funny as it is sad, given such a premise, is no inconsiderable achievement.
The romantic comedy story line that runs through it may strike some as a little precious, but since I was watching Melanie Laurent doing the Manic Pixie Dream Girl thing (most American moviegoers first saw her, draped in incandescent red, in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds), I didn't mind; in another life I'd like to come back as Melanie Laurent's bathrobe.
The movie is blessed with perfect casting. Christopher Plummer ought to get his Oscar for this. Goran Visnjic (most American TV-watchers will remember him from his ER stint) really knows how to work a bad haircut. Ewan McGregor (most American film lovers have forgiven him for playing young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the useless Star Wars prequels) is exactly right here: too stunned to understand his own feelings even as they seep and leap out of him in every scene.
And let's not forget the dog, Cosmo, who's arguably the most memorable canine trouper to appear on screen since the incomparable Asta (aka Skippy).
Mike Mills (many humans may be familiar with his graphic art, as seen in videos and album packages) based the movie on stuff that really happened to him, and stuff that did not, yet all of it rings true, and it resonates with the best kind of feelings and insights. What more does one want from an artist? Well, one can ask for more, but then one is just being greedy.
My dad could be a tough critic, but he was a great appreciator, and when he experienced a movie, or book, or painting that really got to him, he'd bequeath upon it his highest praise: "That's one of the good ones." I'm sure he'd say that about Beginners, because it is.
He gets an oscar from me any day.
Posted by: Dee-Ann Mernit | June 19, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Hi Mom! Big hugs to you.
Posted by: mernitman | June 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM
I wrote a brilliant comment but it went away when I signed in. :( Anyway, thanks for this blog.
Posted by: Boydsteph1 | June 19, 2011 at 07:10 PM
Sorry to miss your brilliance, Steph! But thanks for persevering with the thanks.
Posted by: mernitman | June 20, 2011 at 11:38 AM
I'm looking forward to seeing this movie! I own a copy of The Awful Truth mainly because I love Asta's performance so much.
Posted by: Christina | June 24, 2011 at 09:33 PM
Hi Christina - I'm assuming you've got a copy of "Bringing Up Baby" as well? Asta's other greatest moment, if you ask me, though the "Thin Man" comes in a close third.
Anyway, if you're an Asta fan, you're going to really enjoy Cosmo. Check out the post's link to the article about his trainer - my friend Bob has walked with Mathilde and her many dogs through our Venice neighborhood, and says she's really fun.
Posted by: mernitman | June 24, 2011 at 10:11 PM
My thoughts when seeing this film:
Melanie Laurent is so pretty.
And much better movie than I expected. The trailer should probably have focused on the romantic storyline most because that's where most of the charm came from the movie. It would have probably played in more than 3 theaters in all of LA. The trailer suggested a real downer of those hard to sit through arthouse films like Submare, but it isn't. I did fee like we never got to know the father--he seemed more like a carricature of all things good. The boyfriend (Goran) and the dog seemed to get more character development. The story is at it's best when it gets real---with Melanie, with the boyfriend and his insecurities and surprising with the dog.
Posted by: Eric | June 26, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Eric: I was happier with the father than you were, and found the whole of it to be all of a piece, as a kind of meditation on how loss can either cripple or encourage love, and on the courage required to let one's self love again. But (unsurprisingly), who could disagree with Melanie Laurent?
Posted by: mernitman | June 27, 2011 at 03:12 PM
I felt like we got to know his mother and his boyfriend (who seemed to steal the scenes a bit--the treadmill scene was probably one of the best at illustrating the matter without hitting you over the head.
What's not taken for the trailer, was how cute and charming the romantic storyline was. It's was a very unique will illustrating their relationship and it always treated in a sweet yet mature way.
Also, even by hollywood standards, Melanie Laurent just looked stunning. I had a big Coke Zero, yet forced myself to sit through the end because of her. One of the surprises after a summer of dumb heros and unnecessary sequels like the Hangover.
Posted by: Eric | June 27, 2011 at 04:42 PM
I absolutely love that show Beginners! It's simple story of love and growth when it comes to fathers mixed with a subtle touch of comedy stories make it a rich and entertaining video with a feel-good reaction. Movies that can teach you a lesson are the best in my book.
Posted by: Gary Neal | July 27, 2011 at 09:41 AM