THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT: AND SO IS THIS MOVIE

In fact, this movie is more than all right. It is one of the best films of the year involving some of the best performances as well.

Laser: I don't think you guys should break up.
Nic: No? Why's that?
Laser: I think you're too old.
Nic: [wryly] Thanks, Laser.

If you can the fact that someone named their child Laser, overall this is a movie about a loving family with some unusual caveats. Nic and Jules are a loving couple portrayed by Juliana Moore and Annette Benning. Yes, Nic is a woman. However, that's not what is unusual about this story. Nic and Jules are the proud parents of two lovely children Joni and Laser, conceived by artificial insemination. Now as Joni (played by the lovely Mia Wasikowska from Alice in Wonderland) prepares to head off to college, her slightly younger brother asks for her help in finding their father, a sperm donor. Both Nic and Jules used the same sperm donor, so it doesn't make it that difficult when the children search for their father. Enter Mark Ruffalo as Paul, the very testosterone filled male. A chef and owner of a local restaurant Paul is at first taken aback by the situation but soon grows to realize the benefits of having a family. Of course, this is not his family, a fact that will hit home a little hard leader in the movie. Ruffalo does an absolutely fantastic job of a man who has been hit upside the head with a big dose of reality and does his best to make lemonade out of oranges. What makes this movie absolutely wonderful is the stellar performances by both Moore and Benning. I predict that come awards season, these two will be neck and neck competing with each other after a performance where they complemented each other so well. Both characters have their issues. Nic the heavy handed one, the strict mom, who despite her tendency to drink too much needs to have everything in control. While Jules is a free spirit who has been bouncing from job to job trying to find and/or express herself. Of course, Jules is the mom who gave birth to Laser. If you haven't noticed, that was the thing that I have the most difficulty with in this film, someone naming their son Laser. I guarantee that this film will be nominated for best picture this year. It's a movie about family, the difficulties of marriage and relationships, the difficulties of raising children; I guess it's just another really good film about the struggle to get through this thing called life.

MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE: (AWKWARD SILENCE)

Inspired by a true story this film directed by Werner Hertzog and produced by David Lynch was too bizarre of the movie to pass up. In true David Lynch fashion, it was indeed way bizarre. The story follows the events that led a young troubled man who stabs his mother locks himself in the house causing a huge scene and time for the flashbacks takes to explain how we got to this point. I really wish I had dropped some acid before watching this film, however that may have done some serious brain damage. It is a movie filled with dramatic pauses, unexplained actions, and of course, there's the dwarf. Grace Zabriskie is absolutely stunning, and always fun to watch. Chloe Sevigny is the man's fiancée who brings a tiny bit of sanity to the bunch. Michael Shannon is the man, and as compelling as he is to watch it is also almost revolting. There is not much likable about his character, but it definitely is entertaining. Hertzog mentioned something in his interviews about wanting to return to a low-budget film using great actors and portraying as reality. He does accomplish both these things, but the end result is such a bizarre film, had I not had the patience would have been difficult to see this one to the end. This film is not for everybody.

MARGOT AT THE WEDDING

MARGOT AT THE WEDDING SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THE BOUQUET Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) brings to us an odd assortment of characters, fully developed and interesting to watch... at least for a while. Nicole Kidman is Margot, who is on her way to her estranged sister, Pauline's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding with her preteen age son, Claude. Their arrival gives everyone a few days to visit before the ceremony. We meet the groom, Malcolm (Jack Black) who practically steals the movie away from his dynamic co-stars. He is crass, vulgar and speaks his mind, which is against everything Margot is for. Kidman realistically reveals the realities of her character as she imbibes wine, Xanax and tries hard to repress her feelings. Typically she hurls insults and cruelly snaps at her son and her sister. She gives new meaning to inappropriate parenting skills. Leigh is comfortable in Pauline's skin. She dances between calm and chaos. The script is tight and mixes subtle comedy in this mostly dramatic film. Again, we see a family that puts the 'fun in dysfunction'. The film moves a bit too slowly. When all is said and done, the ending left me dissatisfied. The whole movie flows from one scene to another with minimal effort except the end. I'm not always one for a happy ending, but there were too many unanswered questions. I didn't like spending the time (maybe too much time) to get to know and understand these people only to be cut off so curtly. Overall an entertaining film to watch, especially Black in a serious role, but not one of my favorites.
Pick-ish: A middle of the road pick, not great but interesting to watch.