The film is a
comedy first and foremost, but it’s certainly not without its gut wrenching
moments. From Elle’s troubled past to
the true fear that Sage experiences about her pregnancy, Grandma will hit you
just as hard with the drama as it does with the comedy.
The careful balance
between the two would not be possible without the brilliant performance from
Lily Tomlin. Elle is misanthropist and loves every minute of it, but Tomlin is
able to give the character so much more depth and a complicated demeanor
through the simplest of touches, smiles, or looks. It’s almost as if the writer (and director),
Paul Weitz, wrote this wonderful role specifically for Lily Tomlin.
While clearly the
front and center standout, Tomlin is not the only star that brings it. Sam Elliot, with his smooth voice and all, delivers perhaps his best performance in quite a while, as one of Elle’s
former lovers, Karl. The Grandmother-Granddaughter duo stop at Karl’s house on
their monetary quest and the scene that ensues is so powerful and so deep, I
personally wouldn’t be shocked if Elliot finds himself in award conversations
as well.
Others shine as
well in what might be one of the better-acted films of 2015. Julia Garner is a
delight as Sage and brings out the realistic behavior of a teenager caught in
her situation. Marcia Gay Harden, who
plays Sage’s mother and Elle’s daughter Judy, puts another charge into an
already stellar film.
Overall Grandma is
another film that thrives on its performances. But unlike others, the film also
maintains a fantastic script, with very few jokes that don’t’ hit. Tomlin is
perhaps the first solid play for an Oscar nomination in this young fall movie
season and could even win it when the time comes. Grandma is a heart felt but
hilarious picture about the complexities of the relationships between this
small family, and it does it so well that it may just be one of the best films
of the year. (9.0/10)
So what did you think of Grandma? Have you seen it or are you interested in seeing it? Is anyone's Gradmother acutally similar to Lily Tomlin's Elle? Comment below and let me know. And as always come back to I Am Sam for weekly reviews.
No comments :
Post a Comment