Review of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009) by Kitty C — 07 Jun 2010

I have a real weak spot for indie films that portray people's lives. I don't know whether it's because I like to watch other people's lives crash and burn and pick themselves up again and not have to worry about my life, or whether it's because they're actually good. The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009) was panned by critics, which is a shame because I really liked this movie.

Pippa Lee (Robin Wright) has had a life like a rollercoaster, but has since settled down to be married to a much older man, Herb (Alan Arkin). She remembers her life before then, and all of the people she met that shaped the way she is now. The arrival of Chris (Keanu Reeves) puts Pippa's life in perspective, and she starts to wonder what she wants to become.

It sounds a little tedious, but it's not. It is captivating from start to finish. This is due to it's major ensemble cast of Wright, Arkin, Reeves, Winona Ryder, Blake Lively, Julianne Moore, Maria Bello and Monica Belucci, who all turn out in force with wonderful performances, even though some of them are brief (such as Julianne Moore, who was fantastic as always even if she was only in about three scenes). I can't understand why this was so heavily panned, because it is a gem of a film which is by no means slow-moving at all.