The opening scenes are scored perfectly, the soundtrack is great. It's punchy as needed, not over the top. The opening shows all the main characters and sets the jumping off point for the story. The movie stars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as the mothers to two teenage children, Joni and Laser, portrayed by Mia Wasikowska (Alice in this years Alice in Wonderland) and Josh Hutcherson. The plot develops as the kids contact their birth father sperm donor, Mark Ruffalo.
The dialogue is excellent. It is smart, and begins with an ease of wit and humor. The pacing and length of the film seems just right. The camera is not mockumentary style nor handheld, but as a very "real' style. The editing and cinematography of one scene in particular is so amazing, it expresses so much emotion and serves to lift Annette Bening's stellar performance. She is heartbreakingly good (so is Julianne Moore, but Bening's performance in particular shone to me). I don't know the other nominees yet, but with this performance -- Bening's is deserving.
Family is complicated. This film made me think about my own family. It hooks you with its wit and dialogue and keeps you with its accurate portrayal of the real issues of family and marriage.
And I drank wine while I watched. And no one counted how many glasses.
Side-note about redbox-ing this particular movie, the menus allow you to select the special features, but only plays a message from the studio that all bonus features can be viewed by purchasing the blu ray. Boo to that. Bravo to the flick.
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