Indie triumph.
| Overall Grade: | A |
| Story: | A+ |
| Acting: | A+ |
| Direction: | A |
| Visuals: | B |
I watch a lot of a movies. From action to drama, to scifi to romance, thrillers and indie films. Today, I watched one of the best indie movies I have ever seen. Normally, I don’t venture out for an indie unless it has some compelling oddity, such as Momento or Primer (both vastly far afield from the tenor of “Lovely, Still”. Perusing the vaults of online Netflix, I came to Lovely, Still and thought it might be an interesting view.
Directed by Nik Fackler, Martin Landau and Ellen Burstyn play a couple in love, him for the first time, and for most of the film the charm of their growing relationship is warm and endearing, even if some scenes lean to the stereotypical. Yet, while the humor and circumstance may be easy to spot coming, it never feels cliche. This isn’t because of the gently rolling and simple script, it is because of the elegant acumen of these two leads. Both are perfect, and leave nothing to chance. Voice and nuanced motion become the impeccable reality that everyone believes.
My family and I sat and watched this gem of a movie unfold, and were charmed into a wonderful evening. At times, the supporting work of Adam Scott (supporting roles in Step Brothers and Knocked Up) and his portrayal of a store manager makes the film feel oddly offbeat, but in a whimsical way (think Napoleon Dynamite meets Grumpy Old Men). The story is never riveting, but always enjoyable.
But eventually, tiny holes in the story begin to open into portals of pain. By the end of the film, the tragedy of illness affronts characters, story and viewer. And this becomes the point- to bring a solid wall of ice across the warm glow of the romantic sunset of a couple’s life. Without placing a spoiler in this review, understand that this painful twist will abruptly end the romantic story of this film.
The movie may seem contrived, especially in the last 20 minutes, but I can’t judge it that way. The experience it portrays cannot truly be understood without living it, I suspect. Perhaps this is a good portrayal, perhaps not. But the writer and director make an attempt to put their plot on the screen. It is well worth our time, well worth our consideration. Perhaps life won’t look exactly like this script, but this film is worth our effort to listen and watch.
Warm, endearing, thoughtful, shocking, tragic, human. Watch it.
Amazon DVD Link Lovely, Still
Review by Kim Gentes