Great Film

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I absolutely agree. Every one of these characters were as real as life itself, and there was nothing contrived about what happened at all. I really appreciated the lack of surges of dramatic music; the quiet understated tone of the movie was perfect. My favorite character, besides Mia (the gorgeous Julianne Moore who looks great even while she's being an acidic rhymes-with-witch)? Has to be the youngest daughter, but I'm damned if I can remember her name or figure out who the actress was. Duh!

I'm sorry Brendan, I can't agree with it being a great film. It was extremely well acted, with Julianne Moore and Noah Wyle especially. The family dynamic was rather realistic, however, the dialog was rather flat a great deal of the time, and many of the 'funny' situations came across just as ackward. The only resolution is that Elliot leaves Mia, after she may or may not had a self discovery with her grade school admirer, and yet her reasons for her hostility and use of sex remain unexplained.

The greatest conflict, the one between Warren and his father, is only confronted by Warren, his father is proven to be an emotional coward. So, is this to mean that Warren's dark, depressed view is the safe and correct perspective? That the forgiveness of Daphne is all that Warren needs for his own self respect? Or that Warren's dad really did desire Daphne for himself? Was Warren's mom unware or just indifferent?

As for Leigh? Did she have a story?

The Direction and Writing would have to put a more well rounded and developed story for my taste to be great. It had a lot of pretentions, but a lot of potential to live up, and didn't quite make it up there. Good, realistic performances aren't enough.

but failed.

I really didn't like the film much at all. I found it very boring and felt that it didn't really go anywhere. They introduced some very complex and interesting characters, let us get involved with them and ask questions and then ended the movie!
I really don't understand how a whole film being written around a randy father who tries it on with his sons girlfriend, could possibly have been thought interesting. There were far more interesting stories going on in that family that weren't explored, and I found it frustrating.

The sister, and the brother (not Noah Wyle or Julianna Moore) had little or no part in that film, and the brothers perky blonde girlfriend...why was she dangled in there? just to provide some humour and eyecandy? I don't get it, maybe thats just me.

Although I love these kinds of movies, but I wouldn't recommend this one at all. If you want to see a great drama, with complex characters, a splash of comedy and interesting but inappropriate relationships, then go and rent The Family Stone, The Big Chill...or even St Elmos fire.

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