Review of Shopgirl (2005) by Dia T — 04 Feb 2009

Wasn't until I found my anchor again at the top of my movie list, old Breakfast at old Tiffany's that I completely realized why this movie is a surprising success. The format runs on the same tracks.

..Its got beauty, brains and something unattainable without much fuss of the afore mentioned and a focus on breaking out of invisible cages. I think I like Martin's timing, his attention to private emotions, the childlike unassuming dialogue and, oh boy, all the rain.

Its a welcome back to L.A. (the continuing) story. I don't feel so bad for Martin this time around though. He has had a lot of practice with the whimsy + affair combo and he does his best trying to time it all out like a ballet instead of obsessing over a lack of the real life complications to being alone and option-less.

The Vermont family scene was either cryptic or sweet, who knows. Toward the final moments, the integrity of the characters closes the narrative with grace and I forget about the arrows pointing to Kozelek and Helmut Lang suit.