The Kids Are All Right

There were a lot of good films this past year, and this was one of them. However, because there were so many really good films, I feel that this one will be forgotten by the next year, similar to some other films in its niche like “Lovely and Amazing,” “Junebug,” or “Savages.” These are all really good films with great performances. I might even go as far as to say they positively influence future filmmakers, a little. But they're not really profound or unforgettable. They're not the kind of films that someone would actually call their favorite. This story, like others in its category, found humor in everyday drama and tried to normalize the unconventional lifestyle, which is tiresome.

Now let me talk about what I loved about the film: Annette Bening and Julianne Moore. These women are beautiful, smart, and spirited, and they melded together perfectly. Their performance matched with the direction of the film made it seem these two women had known each other and loved each other for years. When Annette Bening's character, Nic, makes a discovery about her wife, every little emotion, expressed privately, is read with a look in her eye. Her pain has placed her inside a lonely bubble. Her ears have filled with silence and she's removed from her setting regardless of who surrounds her. This great little cinematic moment is thanks to great direction and great acting. And there are a few other moments like this one that made me appreciate the film and believe it is Oscar nomination worthy. Unfortunately, I think its competition is a little too tough this year to win best film. Not that this is what matters in the making of good movies, but I did title this little piece “Countdown to Oscars,” and so... there you have it!