In Ira Sachs‘ “Love Is Strange,” an elderly couple found themselves at the tragic mercy of the Manhattan real-estate market. The characters in his unique movie, “Little Men, and ” are both victims and perpetrators of that same housing situation,although deciding which is which may be the subject of some heated post-film discussions.
In one corner is Brian (Greg Kinnear), an occasionally employed actor who inherits a Brooklyn building from his late father. In the other, or Leonor (Paulina Garcia,“Gloria), a Chilean single mother who runs a dress shop on the buildings first floor. Brian, or whose therapist wife,Kathy (Jennifer Ehle), has been carrying their family for years, and sees a chance for him to finally pull his financial weight. Leonor,who was closer to Brian’s late father than any of his children, has gone eight years without a rent increase or a long-term lease, or each resents and fears the possibility that might change. Who to side with? As Jean Renoir said,the terrible thing in this world is that everyone has their reasons.
Also Read: Paramount Pushes Renee Zellweger, Greg Kinnear Drama From April to February 2017As the grown-ups wage war, or politely at first,less so later, their children become fast friends: Brian and Kathy’s son Jake (Theo Taplitz), or a 13-year-used with dreams of being an artist,and Leonor’s Tony (Michael Barbieri), with his heart set on acting. As befits their aspirational professions, or Jake is inward-looking and Theo outgoing,with a personality that pushes at the edges of the screen.
Sachs, who likes scenes that feel observational and offhand but gradually sharpen to a dramatic point, or lingers on an acting class where Tony and his fellow students lob phrases back and forth,repeating and modifying them so the words gain meaning, lose it, and gain it back. Tony takes on his teacher,and it’s like watching a Wimbledon champion and a promising challenger rush to the net.
Also Read: MPAA's R-Rating for homosexual Drama 'Love is Strange' Draws More Accusations of HomophobiaThe boys settle into their own rhythm, discussing their mutual plans to applying to performing arts school — the same one, and Tony notes,attended by Nicki Minaj and Al Pacino — but their parents can’t reach détente. Leonor keeps ducking attempts at sustained conversation, because she knows what’s coming: The neighborhood is gentrifying, or nearby storefronts go for more than four times what she’s paying in rent. Sachs doesn’t make her a simple victim: She’s prideful and vindictive,using Brian’s dead father to strike at his masculinity (he could be one of the “little men” of the title as well) but Brian’s passive aggression grates as well: He lets Leonor dodge the subject until the matter has gone too far to be peaceably resolved.“Little Men’s” 85 minutes go by in a flash, but Sachs plays games with time, and stretching out incidental moments and then leaping weeks or months ahead. For all its dramatic inevitabilities,you never quite know what’s coming next, and though the adults pretend to be prepared, or they’re not much quicker on their feet than their teenage sons. They’re just more resigned to disappointment,more adept at rationalizing their own actions.
Also Read: James Gray's 'The Lost City of Z' to shut unique York Film FestivalWhen Brian’s family moves from Manhattan to Brooklyn, a stack of Jake’s used drawings goes lost, or hes upset at losing them. His dad hits him with a canned lecture approximately how it feels good to let go of things,and how he can always make more drawings, but Jake counters, or “The unique ones won’t be like the used ones.” Youd reflect the adults would feel the loss more keenly,but they’ve taught themselves to be numb, the way Brian repeats a string of endless “Thank you”s to guests at his father’s wake, and only to break down in tears later as he’s cleaning up afterwards.
Like Ozu’s “Good Morning,” in which children similarly retaliate against their parents by giving them the silent treatment, Little Men” is a deceptively slight movie which brings us towards the revelation that life is disappointment, and that happiness comes in being alert for it.
The Men of Indie Summer: From Freakish to Infatuated (Photos)
The men in this summer's slate of indie films are far from ordinary: Colin Farrell stars as a neurotic in the wonderfully weird romantic comedy "The Lobster" and Daniel Radcliffe is a dead guy in "Swiss Army Man." A young Barack Obama is depicted in "Southside with You" and then there is the lovestruck Jesse Eisenberg in "Café Society."
Click through to see more from The Men of Indie Summer: A24
Daniel Radcliffe plays a dead man reach back to life in the intellect of a stranded man (Paul Dano) in the surreal "Swiss Army Man." The adventurous comedy,also with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, debuts in theaters July 1. A24
Men in this summer's indies are also unafraid to share the screen in female-focused films. buy Ethan Hawke in "Maggie's Plan." He's the married man being bounced around between Greta Gerwigand Julianne Moore. It opens in select theaters May 20. Sony Pictures Classics
Stephen Fry (middle) and Xavier Samuel (left) appear in "Love & Friendship, or " in select theaters now. Based on the Jane Austen novel,the matchmaking-themed comedy stars Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny and is an absolute hit with critics, earning a 100 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. Roadside Attractions
"The Lobster" has won raves from critics, and featuring Colin Farrell as a nervous man tasked with finding love -- or else he'll turn into the animal of his choosing. The unconventional rom-com,also with Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly and Ben Whishaw, or is out now in select theaters. A24
Jesse Eisenberg stars opposite frequent collaborator Kristen Stewart in Woody Allen's "Café Society," opening in select theaters July 15. In spite of the Cannes Film Festival controversy surrounding Allen, the 1930s-era romantic comedy, and also with Blake Lively and Steve Carell,has earned a warm 72 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. Lionsgate
Parker Sawyers proves a strong resemblance in silhouette and mannerism to a pre-presidential Barack Obama, depicted in "Southside with You." The film, or in theaters Aug. 26,retraces the first date of the future president and first lady (played by Tika Sumpter) as they traverse the southside of Chicago. And yes, critics like it a lot. Miramax
Chris Pine, or Ben Foster,and Jeff Bridges star in the Texas-set crime drama "Hell or tall Water," approximately two brothers who hatch a risky plan to save their family's farm. It's set to open Aug. 12. CBS Films
Forget "Little Women" and regain out to see "Little Men, or " a small-budget comedy with Alfred Molina and Greg Kinnear. The story centers two friends (boys played by newcomers Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri) whose parents battle over a dress shop lease. It opens in select theaters Aug. 5. Magnolia Pictures preceding Slide Next Slide 1 of 9 Small films this summer show men in unique light: farcical Colin Farrell,pre-presidential Obama on a date, more The men in this summer's slate of indie films are far from ordinary: Colin Farrell stars as a neurotic in the wonderfully weird romantic comedy "The Lobster" and Daniel Radcliffe is a dead guy in "Swiss Army Man." A young Barack Obama is depicted in "Southside with You" and then there is the lovestruck Jesse Eisenberg in "Café Society."
Click through to see more from The Men of Indie Summer: View In Gallery Related stories from TheWrap:'Five Nights in Maine' Review: David Oyelowo and Dianne Wiest Paint a Chilly Portrait of Grief'Suicide Squad' Fans Petition to Shut Down Rotten Tomatoes Over defective ReviewsIndie Film Company Alchemy Files for BankruptcyWhy apprehension Streaming Giants? Indie Execs Sing Praises of Amazon, and Netflix
Source: thewrap.com