Review: "Beginners"

Have you ever found yourself wincing in premonitory fear that a gay character or theme will be mishandled by filmmakers or actors? Set those worries aside when approaching the expressive charming BEGINNERS. Though the story about a lonely bachelor artist Oliver (Ewan McGregor) and his newly-out dying father Hal (Christopher Plummer) is fictionalized, it has the stamp of the exquisitely personal about it. It's handmade, in other words, never to be mistaken for a movie made by committee. Writer/director Mike Mills' (Thumbsucker) own father came out of the closet when he was in his thirties and the film is an obviously loving tribute from son to father.

Gay characters in the movies are sometimes little more than caricatures and depictions still largely fall into "types". Older gay men have it especially rough in media representations; if they aren't altogether invisible they're desexualized or depicted as lonely and pitiable. Beginners won't have it like that. One could argue that it's practically heroic in its willful embrace of wholly human characters, no matter their age or sexual preference. Hal is played with lively curiousity by Christopher Plummer with that customary dark twinkle in his eye. It's actually brilliant casting since Ewan McGregor is such a kindred spirit when it comes to those mischievous undercurrents...

Read the Full Review @ Towleroad

Comments

[Andrew R.]

I wouldn't mind seeing this. I loved Laurent in Basterds.

[Robert Hamer]

So glad to hear that the film doesn't fall into any ugly stereotypes or ageism. It's also great to hear that both McGregor and Plummer are still getting plum roles.

[Robert]

Definitely want to see this whenever it makes it to the Midwest. Any awards traction for Plummer or is that just wishful thinking?

[in the money options strategy]

Now you have got your new website and you’re keen to start making some gross sales! However, how can you make gross sales in case you should not have excessive volumes of tourists to your website?