love is strange
2015 review number 30:
Love is Strange: (Drama): 77 out of 100: It's always nice to be entertained by a movie that you know little about and this is one such movie. It's an independent release that could have easily snagged a nomination or two in the recent Academy Awards.
John Lithgow (Ben) and Alfred Molina (George) play a gay couple who tie the knot in New York after spending nearly four decades together. When news of their marriage filters through to George's school, he is fired from his teaching post. Ben is a retired painter and due to their lack of finances, must sell their apartment to make ends meet. While they are looking for an affordable new home, Ben moves in with his nephew Elliot (Darren Burrows), Elliot's wife Kate (Marisa Tomei) and their son Joey (Charlie Tahan). Meanwhile George moves in with two cops. Their new living arrangements causes angst for their own relationship and affects those around them.
Although the pacing is a little slow at times, it is sensitively directed without resorting to cheap melodrama as many of the medium shots allow the viewer to see how several characters are feeling in the one camera frame. Sometimes numerous close-ups in these types of films manipulate the viewer's emotions. The screenplay is also touching and endearing with splashes of humour to demonstrate that the characters are real. This could so easily have been nominated for a screenplay Oscar.
Lithgow and Molina are superb as the gay partners. They convince the audience that their relationship is nearly entering its fourth decade. When they are separated, you feel for them as they struggle to fit in with others. The support actors including Tomei do a fantastic job in showing how they are affected by the change in their own living arrangements.
I always love seeing movies set in New York and the neighbourhood setting has been put to good use to show another side of the city. You feel like you are walking the streets with the characters and being a part of their conversations. The music score which mainly features Chopin's music is another highlight, with the gentle melodies supporting the visuals.
"Love is Strange" is a pleasant character development story that will have you entertained through its excellent acting, solid script and engaging story. Although the pacing is sedate at times, at 94 minutes it doesn't outstay its welcome.
Starring John Lithgow, Alfred Molina and Marisa Tomei
(94 minutes)
Parental Advice: Coarse language, sexual references and adult themes
Additional scene during or after credits: No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdfA5Ff5e78 (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Wednesday 25th February, 2015)
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