I have to admit that it took me awhile trying to get myself to watch Lisa Cholodenko's "The Kids Are Alright."
Lesbian characters just don't interest me much, but the Oscar buzz behind this movie is strong, and I have to find out why. Now I know.
When Laser (Josh Hutcherson) and Joni (Mia Wasikowska, who recently played "Alice" in that Johnny Depp movie "Alice in Wonderland") decide to meet their biological father - Paul (Mark Ruffalo), the "sperm donor" to their lesbian parents Nic (Annette Benning) and Jules' (Julianne Moore) artificial insemination procedures, the weak threads in the relationship start showing. But Jules' further makes matters worse when she inadvertently sleeps with Paul, while she's supervising the landscaping of his backyard.
Family, in any form, is a sacred institution guarded by devotion, loyalty and the instinct of protecting each member from extraneous forces that threaten to harm any member. This is what's uplifting about this dramedy. That despite the imperfections within a relationship, the family will find the bind that pulls them together.
Strong performances from Julianne Moore and Annette Benning who both got Best Actress nominations from Golden Globe, while Ruffalo gets Best Supporting Actor nod from the Screen Actor's Guild. The Film also bagged the Teddy Award at the Berlin Film Fest. The bigger news is the Oscar nominations of Annette Benning (Lead Actress) and Mark Ruffalo (Supporting Actor). In the film, you wouldn't think of Benning as anything but a lesbian. Such a spot-on interpretation! And Ruffalo? He's always been a perfect "sperm donor" for me. LOL
Josh Hutcherson is Laser. Is he having a "special relationship" with buddy Clay?
OB-Gyn Nic and landscape artist Jules share an unusual video together.
Mia Wasikowska sometimes reminds you, not of "Alice", but of a younger Gwyneth Paltrow.
Paul is invited over at the family's barbecue. 
The stunning Julianne Moore.
Julianne Moore's sizzling ad campaign for Bulgari. This one is the "Eccentric Charisma" campaign.
Mia Wasikowska
Mark Ruffalo's first Oscar nomination as businessman Paul - the sperm donor who unwittingly sneaks himself within the corridors of an otherwise "normal" family mechanics.
8 comments:
nung binabasa ko nawala sa isip ko na hindi pala "Everything's fine" ang nirereview mo..kaya pala hanap ako ng hanap kay Kate Beckinsale :)
--siguro dahil sa homosekswalidad,...
Si Julian Moore, dapat palakpakan ang sining sa pag-arte..
I've always loved Julianne Moore. She's someone who, if I were an actress, I would inspire to be: beautiful and classy, without a trace of Hollywood vulgar!
"Everything's Fine" was a favorite too although a lot of my friends find it too dramatically manipulated, but it worked for me. That's what I keep saying, movie watching is subjective - mostly!
poor CGI killed the comedia!!
CGI where?
i love this film! if only for josh, solved na ko! pero hindi, eh, so many things going on in this film. it has one of the funny sex scenes i've seen, yet realistic. kakatuwa sila. however, i still didn't get why the ladies were into m2m porn. pero when julianne finally saw a penis up close, galing ng reaksyon niya!
@ sineasta (jheck?):
Yes, i know. That was hilarious - lesbians getting their "motors running" by watching gay men shag! On the surface, it is a conundrum. If they are turned on by penises, why would they prefer a female partner? I have some theories in my mind, but it isn't ripe for sharing. Haha.
Josh Hutcherson is such a babe. I still remember him in "Little Manhattan" - the very first time I got attracted to a "child". Heavens, I would deny tendencies to pedophilia, but oh well. LOL. I am glad Josh is all grown up.
My favorite part is the film's conclusion, when the whole family had to see Joni off for college. That made me cry.
And that warm comfortable feeling as the credits roll. Dang!
Yeah, Josh in Lil Manhattan! Awww! Haha!
In this film, the kids are all right, but not the adults. The ending also made me cry. That's why I posted in my FB page that kids shouldn't get into growing old easily. Adults have so many issues in life! (I should know! Haha.)
Btw, my review blog is at www.itsallaboutmovies.blogspot.com.
Problems make life a dynamic process, and they do pile up as we grow older.
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