Beginners 2011

     The time period of this film is 2003.  This film is based loosely on the experiences of writer/director Mike Mills.  Oliver Fields is a 38 year old graphic artist and he has not had success in romantic relationships.  He meets French actress Anna and things are going well until he starts to believe that it can’t last?  He has also had recent sadness in his life.  His mother passed away and 5 years later he was taking care of his father during his last days.  He was shocked when his father suddenly announced that he has terminal cancer and he also has a young male lover?  Now he has his father's Jack Russell dog Arthur living with him.  Surprisingly, Olive had been taking relationship advice from his father Hal?  His father had a new outlook on life after the passing of his wife.  There are two possible obstacles to Oliver’s relationship with Anna?  Oliver has a very needy Jack Russell Terrier, Arthur and Anna is very much a vagabond.  Oliver is not a vagabond?  3* (This movie is OK)

    This is like a Woody Allen movie about relationships but not wonderful like his recent ones in Spain and France.  I expected this to be good with the reviews it has received but I just did not like it.  Everyone seems cut out with cookie cutters and living in a fog.  An example is how can Oliver make a living drawing when he can't relate to what a client would want and his idea is not practical for the application?  The best actor is Arthur the dog!!  Some frank but not overt sexuality and sexual references, a small amount of nudity, there is language and characters drink quite often but not to drunkenness.  The ill father takes several prescriptions drugs.  2 1/2* (This movie is so-so)
   
104 min, Drama directed and written by Mike Mills with Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic, Kai Lennox, Mary Page Keller, Keegan Boos, China Shavers, Melissa Tang, Amanda Payton, Luke Diliberto, Lou Taylor Pucci, Bambadjan Bamba, Hana Jane, Samuel T. Ritter.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10 with 84,734 views, 85% critic with 159 critics 77% audience on Rotten Tomatoes with 25,156 ratings, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Deep Focus Reviews Brian Eggert 4*, Metacritic 81 out of 100 with 36 critics (34 positive 2 mixed) 8.1 out of 10 with 254 ratings (209 positive 34 mixed 11 negative) Letterboxd 3.8 out of 5*, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson, age 17+, 2* positive, 3* role models 4* sex, 4* language, 2* drinking, drugs & smoking.

Special Note;  Filmed in the Biltmore Hotel, Elysian Park, LA County Museum of Art, Tacos Arizas Food Stand, Akbar, Richard Neutra Health House, Cosmopolitan Counterpoint, Glendale Narrows, Berkeley Avenue, Redcliff Street, Los Angeles, California and New York City, New York.