Sunday, June 23, 2013
LIFE IN LA
Today's film was a New York Times Critics' Pick, Sean Baker's
LA is filled with young blond and old ex-blonds. In this unique and wonderful two character film the two meet in unusual circumstances and, well, hit it off.
That is it.
Of course there are always side stories. In this one, each woman has a closed door to the rest of their life and slowly reveal their stories to each other and to us.
Dree Hemingway is the leggy young blond who lives in a three some with two less than mentally competent room mates, a guy and a girl. She has some money and does work but we don't really see the details of this until later.
The room mates are great in their roles of dumber-thans. The guy is one of those extremely sexy men who is all id and nothing else. The woman is the same. Slackers.
But our young woman is not a slacker. She does work and does well.
The older woman is a recluse with a history and this unfolds slowly and surely as the two get to be friends.
And there is a dog. Named Starlet, a he. But the blond "starlet" liked the name and it stuck with him.
Sean Barker uses the dog as a foil, a diversion (the rabbit in the hat) and as a source of tension (don't let anything happen to that chihuahua, please. He knows how to use this. As does the dog.
The film is quite funny until it isn't and then it is sweet with a hard edge.
Two improbable friends. Very nice.
I would gladly see it again and will look forward to future ventures by Mr. Baker.
Labels: films
