Beginners

People deal with grief in many different ways. Many film makers decide to make movies about it and honour the loved one they lost.

Someone coming out of the closet and declaring they are gay can be a difficult time. It would be especially tough when it is your father and he decides to do it just after your mother died. You begin to question the life your dad has been leading and the relationship of your parents. Writer/director Mike Mills has crafted an excellent film that deals with this issue really well. You father dying can be a difficult thing to deal with, then when he tells you a big secret it can be even harder to handle. Oliver does handle it quite well. However the falling in love with a great woman can help things. Fancy dress parties seen to be a good place to meet someone. Mike nicely mixes the drama and heartfelt together with some clever and witty lines so as not to make it seem to maudlin. What I really liked was the relationship Oliver has with his father's dog, Arthur. There is also the flashbacks to the times he spent with his mom.

Ewan McGregor nicely balances his career with the big films and the small. I think he does the best work in the smaller ones. I think this is one of his best roles. There are times in this film where I forget I'm watching an actor and involved in what his character is doing. Christopher Plummer has been playing the grumpy old man role lately so it is nice to see him play such a sweet and loving character. I also like the fact that Melanie Laurant has not succumb to the evils of Hollywood. It is also great to see her play a more lively character and have some fun. Goran Visnjic is very good despite playing a very weird character.

A nicely sweet dramatic comedy that takes a major change in some one's life and delivers a clever film about relationships. Love can come in many different forms.