Beginners (****1/2)

Beginners is a movie that caught me off guard. From the brief things I had heard about it prior to seeing it, I understood it to be the story of an elderly man finally coming out of the closet. While that is most true, the film is instead about his son, played by Ewan McGregor, and the effects of his relationship with his parents and his own personal relationships. Told through a non-linear narrative, the film is brilliantly executed and one of the more unique movies of the year.

Ewan McGregor is a graphic designer collecting his life after his father's sudden death from lung cancer. He leads a solitary life, adopting his father's dog and talking to him as though he's a human. At times, the dog's thoughts are even subtitled. The film is in no means a representation of reality, rather the flawed perspective of McGregor. One scene in particular shows the son remembering his father coming out as gay, wearing a purple sweater. However, he soon remembers he was wearing a bathrobe instead. We see flashbacks of his eccentric mother, though what can we believe is true and what are simple fabrications?

Christopher Plummer, fresh off his first Oscar nomination for The Last Station is in top form. After a marriage of 40 years, we see a man finally grasp the self he has long hid away. We see him finding a young boyfriend, joining gay groups and making friends, even learning what 'house music' is. It is not necessarily a 'showy' performance, but Plummer captures every nuance perfectly. I would expect him to garner his second consecutive Supporting Actor nomination, and it would be completely deserved.

Plummer fills a small part of the film, with the rest focusing on McGregor and a choppy relationship with the quirky and dark Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds). I believe the film could have only been stronger had it focused more time on this unique father & son relationship as opposed to a more generic romance. This is not to discredit such a unique screenplay, merely suggest a small flaw.

Yes, Beginners is a film you have probably not heard of, but is is certainly a film that deserves a larger audience. Now out on DVD, I would recommend going out and buying your own. Brilliant movie, brilliant story, brilliant acting.

(Awards potential: Best Supporting Actor (Plummer), Best Original Screenplay)