NIKKI says:I'm annoyed we waited this long to watch this film. I think we've had it on the shelf about two years. I think the cover always turned us off. It looks quite dreary, even the title makes you feel like it'll be somewhat of a slog.
Turns out, it was an absolute joy. It was sad and tragic in a few places, but it had this absurd kind of humour that just made it so heartwarming. I feel gypped now that Little Miss Sunshine and Juno and these apparently ultra-quirky films get all the praise while these smaller, more deserving films just blend into the background.
This one began as films of this sort do -- man comes home to small town after spending time away and must re-adjust to a world that knows far too much about him. Jim comes to live in his house, where his mum walks in on his bath time, and where guys in bars still know him by name regardless of the years gone by.
Jim struggles to fit in here. He's searching for something beyond this life. We know that New York didn't work out, though we don't know exactly why for much of the film. We know there's trouble in his family, with his relationships. Again, we must wait for some explanation of all this, and it's in this waiting, watching Jim as he skulks about felling sorry for himself, that we find the honesty in this story. It's especially hard-hitting if you've shared Jim's experience of returning to small town after significant time away.
Jim meets a girl and things begin to turn around for him. But it's not quite so easy. Especially when Jim just thrives of on his "chronic despair" and his mum is accused of drug-smuggling.
I enjoyed so much about this movie. The writing, the comedy, the performances. Casey Affleck is fast becoming just my favourite actor. His naturalness is fascinating to watch. He makes every line feel like an ad-lib. Seymour Cassel was subtle and hilarious as always, too.
I'm so glad we watched this. March has been so light on ratings above 2.5.
4/5
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