maandag 23 november 2015

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 149: Junebug

Director: Phil Morrison
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Embeth Davidtz, Alessandro Nivola, Amy Adams, Scott Wilson, Ben McKenzie, Celia Weston

Description: A dealer in "outsider" art (Embeth Davidtz) travels from Chicago to North Carolina to meet her new in-laws, challenging the equilibrium of this middle class Southern home.

Review: Hollywood seems to have embraced the Indie film and with “Junebug” we have a real independent, small American film. The story follows Madeleine and George, a cultural couple from Chicago that travels to North Carolina for Madeleine’s job as an art dealer. While they are there they also pay a visit to George’s family, whom never met Madeleine. Two different cultures clash and bond.
Debuting director Phil Morrison got an insightful script from Angus MacLachlan, that isn’t very dramatic but shows us a nuanced observation of ordinary people. Positive is that the middle class and narrow minded Southern people are reflected in a more realistic way and not in a negative way. Like George’s mother, who is pretty annoying but the story allows her to be honest. No clichés.
The acting is very good. Embeth Davidtz is strong as the cold city woman. Alessandro Nivola as George and Ben McKenzie as grumpy Johnny are also very good. The star is Amy Adams as the pregnant Ashley. It’s probably the character with the least depth, but the most likeable and touching. She won at Sundance with this role and got an Academy Award nomination.
The film feels natural, great eye for detail and very relatable. “Junebug” is a film perfect for Indie lovers like me.

Rating: 4/ 5

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