By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Sebastián Lelio
Starring: Brad Garrett | Caren Pistorius | Holland Taylor | Jeanne Tripplehorn | John Turturro | Julianne Moore | Michael Cera | Rita Wilson
Country: chile, united_states
Year: 2019
Running time: 102
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6902696/reference
Thom says: “This is exactly the type of film I look for in these troubled times. It is honest, compelling, and a true slice-of-life experience, but, that being said, it totally relies on Julianne Moore’s mind-boggling performance to carry it off. She’s had enough awards and accolades over the years that I have no need to stress her overall quality. She’s been nominated 8 times for either Supporting Actress or Actress Chlotrudis Awards: VANYA ON 42nd STREET, A SINGLE MAN, SAFE, BOOGIE NIGHTS, THE MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS, FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE END OF THE AFFAIR, & AN IDEAL HUSBAND (which isn’t even half of her major accomplishments, my favourite of her stunning acting coups was MAPS TO THE STARS). And someone please explain what it means that she won an Audience Award for FAR FROM HEAVEN but only a nomination? Here she plays Gloria a 50-something free-spirited divorcee who seeks out men in Los Angeles dance clubs (great oldies dance hits, I loved Gloria badly singing along to songs she’d listen to on her car radio). She meets and falls for an ex-military type (Arnold) with a ton of issues but really quite sweet (played with enormous gravitas by John Turturro in one of his best-ever performances). What’s amazing about Moore’s star-turn is that she creates a woman that can be appreciated for her spirit but one that doesn’t have that much going for her. Sure, she’s very attractive and has a sassy quality but she refuses to handle any of the people in her life to any degree, & appears to get along best with her ex-husband & his new wife.. What she does finally to Arnold is inexplicable and she doesn’t grow at all. A very strange character who you think about weeks after viewing the film. Like many great films it has an ending dance routine that is nearly as worthy as the one at the end of BEAU TREVAIL.”