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| Movie Review: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Alternate Title: A Woman on the Verge
Story: Every so often a film
comes along that is fresh, subtle, surprising and interesting. Director
and writer Rebecca Miller (based on her own novel)
has delivered such a film. Pippa Lee is 50-ish and has been married, seemingly forever, to a man
30 years older than herself. She bore him two children (now adults)
and their once vibrant, exciting, Manhattan life has been downsized
and silenced by a move to an adult community in Connecticut. Her 80
year old husband has had three major heart attacks and it seems as if
they are preparing for his death. Pippa seems lost, dazed, bored, confused and curious about who she
really is and why does everyone think she is an enigma. Her bouts of
sleepwalking seem to indicate that her psyche is in 'the go' position,
but her waking life is staid. In often hysterical flashbacks, we meet Pippa as a little girl, enduring
her mother's drug addled mood swings and as a rebellious teenager who
flees home at 16, never to return. Characters, rich in texture, flow in and out of the film. There are
delightful surprises throughout. I highly recommend this film to everyone. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN6dLhu7wkY Acting: Robin Wright Penn as Pippa Lee, gives the
best performance of her life. Brava. Blake Lively as
Young Pippa, bears an amazing resemblance to Penn and does a fine job.
Alan Arkin as 80 year old Herb Lee, does not disappoint.
Keanu Reeves as the half-baked neighbor, Chris is perfect.
Maria Bello as Pippa's mother, gives her usual perfect
pitch performance. Zoe Kazan as daughter Grace Lee,
was the only character I did not buy. Winona Ryder
as friend Sandra is back. She is hysterical. I have missed her. Welcome
home. Mike Binder, Monica Bellucci, Ryan McDonald, Julianne
Moore, Robin Weigert and Shirley Knight all
give terrific supporting performances. Trivia: Rebecca Miller is the daughter of Arthur Miller
and is married to Daniel Day-Lewis. She began her career as a painter
and sculptor at Yale, exhibiting in several galleries before the theatrical
urge struck.She met husband Day-Lewis at her father's house while the
two men were preparing the film version of Miller's play The Crucible.
Robin Wright Penn was born in Dallas, Texas in 1966,
but grew up in San Diego, California. She has two children with Sean
Penn. She is the National campaign spokesperson for Myasthenia Gravis.
Blake Lively was born in a showbiz family in California
and quickly followed her parents and siblings steps. Her first role
was Trixie the Tooth Fairy in 1998 movie "Sandman" directed
by her dad, Ernie Lively. Her big break came along a few years later
though. Blake was up to finish high school when she got the co-starring
role of Bridget in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"
on 2005. he stars in Gossip Girl.
Predilection: None
Critters: A lion and a dog that sadly gets hit by
a car. You do not see the actual accident, but you do see the dog in
the street. I am not sure why this scene was important to the film as
I found it disturbing.
Food: Food is a major component to this film. Lots
of cakes and desserts, fish, butterflied lamb, a pig with an apple in
its mouth and more.
Sex Spectrum: Some funny sex and some tender sex.
Soundtrack: A delightful mix throughout the years.
Opening Titles: We meet Pippa, being toasted in hr
hew home by friends before the title. All other credits are at the end
of this film.
Visual Art: The walls are fairly empty since the
Lees downsized from their Manhattan digs. There is a funny scene in
a pottery class.
Theater Audience: Pretty crowded with old and young.
Weather: Connecticut is lovely. Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 2 - Dog scene (see above).
Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout
Predictability Level: I was not sure what was going
to happen.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Perhaps Big Screen or Rental: I always say go for the big
screen but this film would still be fine as a rental.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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