Best of 2011: “Beginners”

Posted by Robert Ryan on Feb 4, 2012 in Film | 0 comments

I loved this film from the moment Ewan McGregor and Mélanie Laurent meet. A truly realistic (as can be) love story between two people that are attracted to one another with a gay dad thrown in for good measure.

Mike Mills is a director who I believe will keep turning out good work as long as he keeps making stories close to his heart. His art may leave something to be desired but is nearly instantly recognizable when gazed upon.

This movie challenges the viewer with the idea that relationships always seem to be euphoric in the beginning and then quickly fade into fecal matter because the real person shows up. So is there any point to falling in love?

I choose to believe – even if it is against our caveman biology.

Recommended Viewing: 500 Days of Summer – Like Crazy – Thumbsucker

Robert Ryan Scale: Objective: 8.7   –   Subjective: 9.2
MetaCritic: 81
Rotten Tomatoes: 84
IMDB: 81

Robert Ryan is a local cinema enthusiast with a film collection exceeding 8,000 titles. Robert fled his rural roots due to the church’s censorship of film. His passion and labor of love came with a price he never regrets paying. Before becoming affiliated with Rockland Lifestyle, Robert worked as a freelance film critic and professor at Nyack College, teaching digital film production.