Lovely & Amazing

I have this theory that women and men view film differently. This is my theory: men need to have a complete story arc, a story that begins and ends, while women can handle a plot that is simply a series of vignettes. At least I used to have that theory back in my younger, more naive days. It does go some way towards explaining the style of this film, however. Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, it is a film by and for women. The focus is on three daughters and how they are similar to their mother, even though one is adopted. You learn about their lives and their insecurities. Actually, the entire film seems to be about insecurity. That, and anger. Which are two big parts of women's lives, and for that the film is commendable. It just isn't that interesting, and at times frankly it's implausible. (Really, being arrested for statutory rape due to a call from the boy's mother? Yeah, that's going to happen.) Even the ending is faintly ridiculous -- the insecure daughter who frets about her beauty gets her face damaged, but then won't show it to her new lover. If she'd grown at all in the film, it would be to make it possible for her to finally do this and not worry about it. The irony of the casting in this film is that the most compelling actor on screen is a man. Jake Gyllenhaal is Mr. Charismatic. Is it just because I'm a girl? I doubt it -- charisma speaks to anyone, since it has nothing to do with the words being spoken, but instead with all the non-verbal cues. Wanna see him in something that uses every ounce of that special talent? Watch Donnie Darko.

year: 2001
length: 89 min.
rating: 2.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258273/combined