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It has been noted on more that one occasion that I will go see a movie that you feel worse after seeing it than before you went into the theater. That is not always the case for me. I like to see a movie that makes me think. As an observer, analyzer and participant in the human condition I love to see movies that try to explain how we look, think and act. Such was the case with the other two movies I saw this weekend. I haven’t seen three movies in three nights in a long time. This weekend started the release of the summer flicks. I took advantage of usual movie date, Val, being at the air show this weekend to partake in some serious drama and independent films. Stuff I thought he wouldn’t be interested in seeing. Thanks Jean for attending the movies, I look forward to more movie viewing in the future.

Then She Found Me

I didn’t know much about this movie before I went to see it. I don’t want to give too much away because I felt that the plot was interesting and what really spoke to me in the film was the character development. From what I had been told this was Helen Hunt’s directoral debut and she co-wrote the screenplay. She wasn’t going to wear make-up nor try to hide her 40 something years through lighting. She held true to her word and sometimes I think she went out of her way to look particularly dowdy. Each of the characters was totally believable. Each was flawed. Each was trying to understand and trust each other. Each had difficulty being honest and trustworthy. At first glance one might think this is a story about motherhood and longing, but it is really the story of betrayal.

Rating - 3 nursing caps with prescription “travel the labyrinth of human frailty and defense to find the true nurturing self.”

The Visitor

Wow, what a great film. Not since last year’s Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film, “The Lives of Others” have I seen such powerful, understated portrayal of emotion. Richard Jenkins, plays Walter Vale a lonely Connecticut college professor whose life is completed changed when he returns to his New York City pied de tier to find two people living in his apartment. Jenkins, best known to me as the dead Dad on “Six Feet Under”, completely loses the snarkiness of that character and is transformed from a recluse hiding from people to opening up not only to the couple in his apartment but to his inner creative being. This story is about extending yourself out of your comfort zone and the benefits achieved through facing the challenge. A must see film.

Rating - 4 nursing caps with prescription “see this movie in the theater to thank Hollywood for making a real movie with depth, emotion and plot.”