Review of Junebug (2005) by Joeh — 12 Sep 2005
A deft protrayal of the gap, let us say GULF between sophisticated, successful urbanites and the not-well-to-do rural American families they may have come from. We are offered an intelligent, life-like and often dramatic portrayal of the many disconnects among "closely related" folks as the filmmakers cannily skewer disjunctions in the family relationships in view.
On the other hand the film is morally one-sided. It fails to show any of the positive forces that bring and maintain people together. It's not only southern-fried conventionalism that makes those people do what they do; small town life is more than just a dance of fools.
Understanding and kindness have a role even there. So the film lacks balance. The source of the unkindness inherent in the film is the filmmakers' "sophistication", which contains a strong bais against the rural locals.
We miss dramatic tension because there is no counter-balancing kindly force that is being frustrated by the animosities and avoidances delineated so well in the film. Entertaining drama for many, but you won't find a wise or complete portrait of the human animal here.
This review of Junebug (2005) was written by Joeh on 12 Sep 2005.
Junebug has generally received positive reviews.
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