By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.75 cats
Director: Ira Sachs
Starring: Alfred Molina | Charlie Tahan | Cheyenne Jackson | John Lithgow | Marisa Tomei | Olya Zueva
Country: brazil, france, greece, united_states
Year: 2014
Running time: 94
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2639344/combined
Diane says: “Alfred Molina and John Lithgow make a sweet pair–married after 39 years together and then thrown into a financial and household crisis. Can you believe those two big men can fit in a bunk bed together?
“Lithgow did not make his character come real for me–too dithery until the very end when he reveals more interesting traits. Molina and Marisa Tomei are very good in their roles. The real standout for me is Charlie Tahan as Joey, the adolescent being subjected to too many people in his space: his flitting eyes and little breaths speak volumes.
“Director Ira Sachs tries unsuccessfully to combine mundane realities of finding an apartment in Manhattan with the beautiful intimacy of a long relationship. I prefer the latter, and was pleased to be given the opportunity to imagine how Joey might live out his own romance. 3 cats
“The trailer for PRIDE that preceded this movie horrified me. Ironically, it posits that gay people are young and old people are
straight. “
Thom says: “This was an inspiring film for a number of reasons. Director Sachs is responsible for some decent gay genre films in THE DELTA & KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, an excellent crime drama in MARRIED LIFE, but here he is more focused and assured, with no particular axe to grind, but easily giving us a regular drama with side issues that are naturally part of the plot and never seem thrown in. Ben & George (magically played by Lithgow [remember THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP?] & Molina [so memorable in PRICK UP YOUR EARS]) get married after a nearly 40-year partnership, after New York state legalizes gay marriage, with a grand reception with all their friends and relatives. But to put a damper on the festivities the Catholic Church fires George where he is a music instructor, which forbids their employees from breaking the rules of the Church. To bring this travesty home just this past week San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone proposed a morality clause for high school teachers both on and off the campus. And yet, the film chooses not to drive the point home, perhaps to its credit.
“While George takes on private students his earning drop so precipitously the couple can no longer afford their gorgeous New York apartment that they then sell. George & the film concentrate on the marvelously romantic Chopin to sell the point home to his students and to the spellbound audience. It’s so great to be reminded of the brilliance of Chopin, one of the real Greats in music history.
“Ben moves in with his nephew in Brooklyn, his wife (a dreamy Tomei, sweetly confused) and their difficult teen-age son Joey (nicely assayed by Charlie Tahan), whom Ben must bunk with in the teen’s sanctum. While not truly homophobic Joey doesn’t get along with Ben, mainly because his privacy is intruded upon. George, somewhat hilariously bunks with downstairs neighbors, two policeman who definitely seem to be players. Life continues for the separated couple as they try to maintain their own strong relationship. There are a lot of adjustments and changes to make and the sad tone is never really melancholy. I don’t think this type of film would have been made ten years ago and while there aren’t any unforgettable moments the happiness of well-lived lives distraught with circumstances is time well spent. The startlingly sudden denouement works to the films benefit. This and the very recent PRIDE show that the mainstream Gay film industry is alive and well. 4.5 cats”