The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

DC isn't really known as a film town, but sometimes we're treated to a preview of a yet-to-be-released movie.  Last night, that film was the Secret Life of Walter Mitty, directed by and starring Ben Stiller.  This film is actually a remake of a 1947 film starring Danny Kaye, which is based on a short story by James Thurber.  (Apparently, it was pretty well-known half a century ago because when I asked my dad if he had ever heard of Walter Mitty, he laughed at me.  Um, duh, he said.)

Anyway, the film tells the story of a "negative assets" director at Life Magazine.  The job-title itself hits home Walter's unimpressive position at the company.  Things are about to get worse for Walter, as the magazine has just been acquired and would be immediately downsizing under the direction of a snarky and snide executive, played by Adam Scott.  He is charged with producing the final cover photo for the magazine, which proves to be more of a challenge than one might anticipate.

To make matters even more unpleasant for Walter, he has become enamored of his co-worker Cheryl Milhoff, played by Kristen Wiig, and is desperately trying to overcome his shy nature to work up the courage to give her a wink.  He is also trying to help his mother move into a retirement home, while battling incessant and disruptive daydreams that remove him from the present into much more exciting circumstances.

Walter finds an unlikely confidante in the customer service rep at eHarmony, played by the lovable Patton Oswalt.

This film was met with mixed reviews from my fellow cinema-goers.  It can move very slowly, as it is short on dialogue and long on pauses, silences, and beautiful moments.

However, the soundtrack is inspired and combined with the brilliant cinematography which captures the stark beauty of Greenland and Iceland, will transport you into your own daydreams.

If you're looking to escape from the doldrums of your own monotony, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty will entertain and envelop you.

Film of the week: Enough Said

Well, I still haven't figured out why the film is called "Enough Said," but I sure am glad I saw it. Writer/Director Nicole Holofcener, who has written and directed such shows as Sex & the City, Gilmore Girls, and Parks & Recreation, has certainly dealt with the concept love in all stages of life.  This time, she tackles dating in the world of nearly-empty-nesters.

I was skeptical of the 95% positive critical acclaim the film received on rottentomatoes.com.  I thought maybe people were being extra lenient because the film stars the beloved deceased James Gandolfini, but my viewing experience supported that super-fresh tomato rating.

It's through the eyes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character Eva that we really see the story however.  How could a single girl in her late 20s relate to a ten-years divorced character in her fifties?  Easy.  When you're looking for love, no matter what age, it is an exciting, awkward, painful journey. And when you fall in love, you are like the Coyote who finds him self 10 yards past the cliff-edge, careening down.

But the thing is, a lot of us find ourselves stuck in that moment before the coyote actually falls.  We will defy the laws of gravity to protect ourselves.  This is exactly where Eva finds herself when she meets Albert (Gandolfini) at a party and they begin a courtship.  He is certainly not the Prince Charming she may have imagined herself, but he manages to charm her anyway.

But there are other factors at play, Eva finds herself in a friendship with Albert's ex-wife, Marianne, played by Catherine Keener, who is still bitter from their divorce.  As so many of us do, Eva can't seem to keep her friend's opinions from coloring her perception of the man she just can't make up her mind about.

Though Albert is more Shrek than Don Jon, I couldn't resist falling in love with him, myself, and being more than aware of seeing my own perfectionism and unrealistic expectations be reflected on the screen.

Eva's relationship with her daughter, Ellen (Tracey Fairaway) will also pull heart strings as the two prepare to separate when Ellen goes off to the east coast for school in the fall.  I found myself reliving my own departure for college, many moons ago, and having much more compassion for my mom.

Eva also experiences the challenges that dating with children can present when she meets Albert's daughter, Tess (Eve Hewson).

The film's not all sap, though.  An all-star ensemble, including Toni Colette and Ben Falcone, provides plenty of laughs.  Their own imperfect marriage is a testament to the idea that flaws are a normal part of any relationship, including and especially a healthy one.  

A word of caution if you go see this film in the theatre, though: Bring tissues.