Movie Review Monday: Beginners
Welcome to another awesome edition of Movie Review Monday!
This week's movie comes to us via Netflix, and it is 2010's Beginners from writer/director Mike Mills, starring Ewan McGregor & Christopher Plummer.
The basic synopsis of the film is that Plummer plays McGregor's father, who at the age of 75, becomes terminally ill as well as comes out as gay to his son. Hal (Plummer) then seeks to makes the most of his final years, enlightening Oliver (McGregor) to some major life lessons and to reflect on his life growing up with his father and mother. This movie is a semi-autobiographical story for Mills, who father came out as gay after his mother died.
Beginners is an emotional, dry, slow, but poignant movie about who we decide to be in our lives. We see Oliver's life through disjointed flashbacks and learn of his father's life hiding his secret from his son until his final few years, where he could finally be himself. Hal then is able to enjoy this time to the fullest, never looking back and doing what makes him happy. Plummer's performance is fantastic, and quite worthy of the critical acclaim it garnered.
I had this movie recommended by a friend of mine and I never would have known of it or actually taken the time to see it if she hadn't put it forth. I'm doing that for you all now to check out this movie. It's worth your time and will make you think, as all good movies should.
You can check out Beginners, streaming right now on Netflix.