The Neptune theater in the U district
DAY 6. Beginners was showing for the second time, and as we really wanted to see it, we put aside the fact that it would take us a while to go and to come back from the U district. I liked the display for SIFF at the Neptune (picture above), but unfortunately, I have to say that I wasn't as convinced by the film itself.
American filmmaker Mike Mills first directed music videos for Moby, Yoko Ono or Air. He also worked as a graphic designer - you will see later why it matters to tell you this - and did albums covers for bands such as Beastie Boys or Beck. He directed his first feature, THUMBSUCKER, in 2005 - funny his wife Miranda July's first feature was also made in 2005. BEGINNERS is Mike Mill's second feature - produced in 2010, just like THE FUTURE, July's second film: what a coordinated couple! However, his film isn't as impressive as hers...
Oliver is a 38 year-old single man. He works as a graphic designer, and he tries hard to provide a band called "THE SADS" with a perfect album cover. But Oliver's life isn't very satisfying at the moment : he just lost his father, who died of cancer, and does not seem to be able to make any relationship work. Arthur, his father's dog, seems to be the one and only individual able to understand and communicate with him. Oliver is lost in his life - a few years before dying, his father told him that he was gay - had been his entire life - and he keeps remembering what his parents were like, what the world was like, what happiness, sadness, family, stars, beauty, animals, nature, looked like back in his childhood. One day, at a party, he meets Anna, an actress just as lost and confused as he is. And they fall in love...
On paper, it does seem like a pretty nice story. And the trailer actually looked great. However, the film is very imperfect. The editing is confusing and the story doesn't really start - ever. Anna's character (played by the annoying Mélanie Laurent - I sincerely can not stand her) is superficial and uselessly depressed - on the screen, she's an actress who never works, who spends her time in luxurious hotel rooms, who has a suicidal dad, but apart from that, she's empty of content. Oliver and herself are supposed to be in love - they've just met, they have sex, walk around L.A, go paint some graffitis on blank walls, do some roller skating - but they don't give any love to the audience - they're the saddest couple ever and hardly talk to each other. They move in together, decide - for no reason - that it might not be a good idea after all, break up, and get back together - for no reason either.
There are some cute moments - the dog's character is touching and funny, the whole idea of showing pictures and objects from the past is well-treated, the different sets are gorgeous - but what I keep from this second work is an oppressive film, with a melodramatic and sad music on the top, that simply leaves you apathetic and hopeless.
To forget about it, we all went to Boom Noodle for drinks - and I decided not to think about this film ever again.
MJ.
