I first saw the trailer for this movie quite a while before its release. I wrote down the title, and unfortunately forgot about it. Flash forward a few months, and i see this movie in my recommendations on Netflix. Well, quite frankly it still didn't ring a bell at first, but i went ahead and rented it. Now, i'm younger than 30, male, and pretty open to movies. But when i read the synopsis, i wasn't too thrilled about just another love story. Ellen Burstyn was what made me take a chance.
While watching this wonderful movie, i started out pretty confused. I questioned certain character traits in a few people, but they didn't leave a big enough impression for me to keep agonizing over them. About 10 minutes into it, i started to smile. The two main characters just seemed to be made for eachother, and everything they did just fit. Scenes that would normally make my eyes roll, really touched me. For instance, these two wonderful strangers kiss for the first time, and Christmas lights flash on. Needless to say, my smile stayed on for quite some time. Things just worked for these characters.
Then the pessimist in my questioned how perfect everything was. I've seen my fair share of movies that seem good at first, then turn into train wrecks. However, just when i was expecting the worst to happen, a glimpse of jealousy is shown from Mr. Landau's character that makes me think, "oh, here's the hitch." Which draws my attention away from the normal "it's way too perfect to be like this the whole movie" attitude.
The different characters do very endearing acts for and with eachother, and it's all wonderful again. And then that pesky pessimist in me is tapping my shoulder again preparing me for the worst. Then i think i know whats going to happen, and prepare for it, and it turns out that i was yet again completely wrong.
Again, everything is back to normal, and then i have to prepare for the worst. By the time the big reveal, the main reason this movie is so brilliant happens, i'm completely suprised, and taken aback, because this time i simply didn't prepare for it. Everything was fine and i had this movie figured out. Nope. Wrong.
This movie was great for several different reasons. The characters are all very likable. Even when they aren't likable, you don't dislike them. You just ask yourself why they are acting this way. Watching these people, is like hanging out with very good friends who you know well, and even when they are jerks, you forgive them, because you know the real person behind the anger, or confusion.
I purposely didn't put much of anything in this review, just because to give anything away to anyone who is considering on watching this, is a crime. This movie needs it's vewiers to be completely ignorant of any information before watching it. I did however want to convey my emotions, and thoughts i had while watching it, because very few movies take me by surprise anymore.
