So my theatre once a month has these 'film-club' nights, a one-showing of an indie/foreign/artsy film brought in. They've been doing it for a while, but I think I'm going to start going to every month. It's how I saw Volver in January. The film this month is 'Away From Her', I'd never heard of it before, but it's getting good reviews so far(10-0 on RT), and while old people/alzheimers is not usually a topic I rush out for, I think I'll probably check it out. Film by the way is directed by Sarah Polley, Julie Christie has the starring role.

Has anybody else heard of or seen this film? I'm wondering if Christie will show in this year's Actress race, or if the film is too small. I guess I'll find out if her performance would be worthy. Going to see it on Thursday... I'll probably have a review up for it.

Oh, I need to visit F&I film more often!!

but yeah, one of my most anticipated films tihs year. As I said I think Christie has an excenllent shot at a best actress nomination. looking forward to it in may.

Julie Christie got a nomination for a pretty small-ish film as well (Afterglow - darkly funny film IMO) and she has the pedigree and the chops so I'd love to see her snag one for this if the opportunity arises.

I had to play in a school band fundraiser that night, so I couldn't go... bleh.

Bummer!

I just got back from this...well, about an hour ago.

It's an interesting comparison piece to Snow Cake, which I saw Saturday. Both Canadian films that spend a lot of time with snow. Both show how a perfectly "normal" older man deals with a woman's illness. Here, the man's wife develops Alzheimer's disease and in Snow Cake a tragic accident brings a man together with an autistic woman. And they're both very well acted, somewhat moving, and competently (if not too much more) directed pictures.

The difference is, where Snow Cake is heartfelt and sincere, almost joyous even, Away from Her is much more clinical and cold, and in some ways, manipulative. This film's subject is quite a bit tougher than the other and the stakes are much higher, so I wasn't really surprised that it didn't feel as pleasant or warm as Snow Cake. However, I was a little shocked with just how detached it left me. The acting is strong, yes, but it never seemed like the characters knew each other - it was more like they were just talking at each other. Unfortunately, I least of all bought the husband/wife relationship, the one that most has to work. I think that is because the wife didn't seem to buy it either...even in her moments of clarity she never showed much love or compassion.

To be honest, after about the hour mark the film really picked up though. The wife becomes less important and it starts to deal more with just the husband's emotions and how he deals with it, and I started to get much more into it. I still didn't find it as real or humane as Snow Cake, but the second half is pretty good stuff.

I really liked the structure, too. It's not a fractured narrative exactly, but kinda. It's quite effective at getting across the points and emotions. Definitely helps take some of the weight of the actors' shoulders - in a straightforward manner, and without the flashbacks, it very likely would have been even less powerful and more detached than it is. (Not really flashbacks, though. More like backstory I guess. Beautiful stuff, by the way. Probably the best part of the whole film).

So yeah, it's a good enough film. The characters never really clicked for me, but if they do, it's a fantastic movie. Besides just walking away kinda cold, there aren't any glaring flaws (well, the way they shoot the hospital place was a little bad...terrible. But it's not necessarily a flaw of the story/film as a whole so much as just kinda a personal issue. Nitpicky, maybe.)

I think Snow Cake is definitely a better film, if only because it's more believable, alive, fun and certainly funny. If either film gets a good release come fall, acting noms are likely. In fact, in a very 1990s way, I could see either film being nominated for best Picture too, if the field is weak enough (but it would also require a bigger run than I think they're likely to get.)

btw, I just noticed I mentioned manipulation but never anything more. I said that more about the first half that didn't really work for me than the other, but it's just one of those things where they use music and slow motion and close ups and stuff just to get the tears flowing. It's not too bad because its not really too effective, but it definitely seemed like they were trying for it.

Also, when I say "first half" or "first hour" I have no idea exactly the fraction or time. I don't even know how long the movie ran. I just mean like, theres a point somewhere towards the middle where a shift happened - on one side it wasnt much, on the other it was much better. :up:

From the Everyone's A Critic forum:


From the Awards forum:


And just to add...The hockey announcer was a really nice comedic break used occasionally throughout this movie...

So, I'm gonna need to see this soon. Too bad it seems like it isn't playing near me.

Love that. Specially when he commented on Grant's "broken heart."