Movie Review: Beginners

Jenna T.

13 years ago

Beginners is a fantastic film that has the visual appeal of a big mainstream feature wrapped in a thoughtful, intricate, tiny package. It has been a while since I’ve seen a film as carefully crafted as this one. Additionally, the acting is incredible which is not surprising when the film features Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor. The short version of this movie plot goes as follows: Oliver (McGregor) is stunned when his dad Hal (Plummer) comes out of the closet after his wife passes away. Hal and Oliver’s mother had been married for 44 years, and we soon learn that Hal was not unhappy with this life and of course loved his son, hence the reason he denied his true feelings for so long. After officially coming out, Hal then begins dating a man and thus also begins living the life he was meant to for the next four years until he passes away. During those years, Oliver completely embraces his father’s new lifestyle and begins a real relationship with him. Their re-connection as father and son feels completely sincere and endearing. In fact, the story feels authentic and it’s as if the father and son roles were written specifically for Plummer and McGregor respectively.

The story is uniquely told from Oliver’s point of view through the use of flashbacks, photographs and Oliver’s illustrations. It begins three months after his dad passes away when Oliver is living with the Jack Russell terrier named Arthur he inherited from his father. Oliver then meets a woman named Anna (Mélanie Laurent), who he begins to fall for. It is evident that while Oliver fully supported his dad while he was living, he is having a little trouble processing the last four years as his life was also impacted by the bombshell that his father dropped on him. Oliver, an analytical person also begins to reexamine his childhood, specifically his strange relationship with his mother. He is lovingly backward in his relationship with Anna who is equally backward but emotionally available for him as he copes with his father’s passing. His relationship with Anna is not without its hardships as Oliver rediscovers himself after he no longer has to look after his ailing father.

Fans of McGregor will be happy to know that he does not disappoint, by once again staying true to form with his well-crafted performance. Fans of his will continue to be proud of his movie choices, as he carefully selects the films he lends his talents to. Beginners is a gift to moviegoers and completely engaging from start to finish. It examines the complexity of human relationships in a very real fashion. This movie will stay with you for a long while after it ends, and that’s definitely the kind of film worth watching.