Beginners
Golden Globe nominee Ewan McGregor (Star Wars I, II, III), Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer (Inside Man), and Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) star in Beginners, an uplifting comedy about how funny and transformative life can be. When graphic designer Oliver (McGregor) meets free-spirited Anna (Laurent) shortly after his father (Plummer) has passed away, Oliver realizes just how much of a beginner he is when it comes to long-lasting romantic love. Memories of his father, who, following the death of his wife of 45 years, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life, encourage Oliver to open himself up to the potential of a true relationship. Inspired by writer/director Mike Mills' own father, it's an original love story that critics cheer is "smart, poignant and often hilarious!" (Karen Durbin, Elle)
Member Reviews
Congrats to Plummer, makes me proud that talent exist in Canada! - movie_goer
Partway through watching 'Beginners,' I was reminded heavily of 'Garden State', an association that I can't break. Both films are charming indie romance/comedies that wishes to impart broad, loaded thoughts on life and love, both are the textbook definition of 'quirky' and both feature a generally melancholy tone.
Middle aged cartoonist Oliver (Ewan McGregor) sabotages his relationships, but adjusts his priorities when his 75-year old dad announces he's gay, takes a younger lover, and then is diagnosed with cancer. With its quiet old-timey jazz score and gentle breaking of the fourth wall (a Jack Russell terrier commenting on the action via Oliver's Concision. It's Original but far from superior.acting is the key - manwithoutaname
The story is a simple one, low budget and indie. The many flashbacks and clever graphic insertions add to the film, but really it's the acting that gives the movie a high rating. Ewen McGregor is terrific, as is Christopher Plummer. But be warned that the story evolves slowly, and the subject matter can be dark despite the brilliant flashes of humour.Great movie from start to beginning. - KeithTalent
God damn, what an awesome movie. I can't believe it took me so long to get to this, considering it has been at my house since November, but wow, I loved pretty much every single minute of this film. It is a quirky relationship movie, but it worked beautifully for me; it was funny, sad, and very touching in parts. I thought Ewan McGregor was great, but hot damn Melanie Laurent is a vision. I was enraptured every time she appeared on screen, which was thankfully quite a bit. The film is really just about McGregor's difficulties with relationships, reflected through flashbacks with his Mother and Father, but it is done so well that it never feels silly or trite. I was a little worried about this movie going in because I thought it was going to be a silly look at his Father coming out and entering the dating world, but it was far more than that. McGregor's character spoke to me in a way that few characters do.
Member Reviews
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Congrats to Plummer, makes me proud that talent exist in Canada! - movie_goer
Partway through watching 'Beginners,' I was reminded heavily of 'Garden State', an association that I can't break. Both films are charming indie romance/comedies that wishes to impart broad, loaded thoughts on life and love, both are the textbook definition ...acting is the key - manwithoutaname
The story is a simple one, low budget and indie. The many flashbacks and clever graphic insertions add to the film, but really it's the acting that gives the movie a high rating. Ewen McGregor is terrific, as is Christopher Plummer. But be warned that the ...Great movie from start to beginning. - KeithTalent
God damn, what an awesome movie. I can't believe it took me so long to get to this, considering it has been at my house since November, but wow, I loved pretty much every single minute of this film. It is a quirky relationship movie, but it worked beautifully ...