Review of Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) by Nicki M — 07 Nov 2011

This is an all time favourite I finally got around to rewatching. I saw it quite a few times after I bought the DVD, but not for a good few years now.

I have to say, it is still excellent. Miranda July has done a great job on this - both as the quirky lead actress and with directing it. This is a true to life little story with believable yet eccentric characters, all well written and all perfectly cast, though I would say they are pretty much unknowns.

Miranda plays Christine, a struggling writing/performer who drives the elderly for a day job. She meets shoe salesman, Richard (John Hawkes) who is going through a relationship breakup and adjusting to only having his two boys part time. There is an attraction between the two, but he is wary of getting involved again as his ex has been quite callous. His boys are also slight troubled. The youngest, Robby, has stuck up an internet romance with an older woman, and he makes her a proposition that I can't believe she accepts. (Obviously she does not realise he is a child). It would probably be revolting if it wasn't so beautifully and innocently written. I also like the teen girls, Heather and Rebecca, who are leading on an overweight older guy who likes to watch them, but doesn't have the nerve to do more than write notes and watch out his window. The young character, Sylvie, is also amusing, as she collects household utensils obsessively so she will have a dowry and glory box ready for her marriage. (Sylvie is about ten years old).

This kind of reminds me of Todd Solondz, another favourite director of mine, but these characters are basically good, where a lot of his aren't so much. A movie about flawed and real people that is sad as well as funny.

I love this movie and highly recommend it!