Review of Beginners (2011) by Andrew H — 10 Mar 2012

Beginners is the best film of the year and is going to be one of the best films of the decade. It's so good. I feel that it would be very hard not to cry in it. Christopher Plummer gives such a good performance that he can evoke emotion with his presence alone.

Ewan McGregor gives one of his best performances since Trainspotting. I'm speaking for others again, but I feel that it would be hard not to love his character and endlessly relate to him as well as see yourself as him.

When Oliver tears up, you tear up, because the audience is going through his pain and sadness. A huge reason this movie feels so real is the magical and unique storytelling that immediately draws you in.

It's presented as a stream of non linear memories, flashbacks, flashforwards, flashpresents, and they all come at the times they're needed most. Characters remember, characters regret, characters feel, and because of this, so do you.

Melanie Laurent is fantastic; mysterious, beautiful, lovable. Also, as strongly implied by the trailers, the dog's awesome. He's hilarious and insightful. The movie is obviously autobiographical, and I desperately hope no one sees it as self indulgent.

Even if it is a little, who cares? With a movie this good, this GREAT, it doesn't matter at all. I feel true self indulgence that would've negatively impacted the movie severely would be if Mike Mills hadn't judged his characters and showed Oliver as someone who could do no wrong and hide in a world free of judgement.

But he doesn't, he looks at his life, shows his regrets, understands himself better, shows his follies, and finds depth and meaning. It's beautiful. It emotionally destroys me every time.