Day 42- Movie 37. The Kids Are All Right (2010)

The Kids Are All Right is one of those small, Oscar-bait, independenty movies whose performances are better than the actual film. Now, I'm not trying to suggest this is a bad movie. It is actually a very solid, entertaining, funny film about an unconventional, modern family. However, the real reason to watch this movie is to see the entire cast turn in impressive, memorable performances. The actors outshine the film.

This movie is about a lesbian couple (Annette Bening, Julianne Moore) who are surprised when their children (Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson) track down their sperm donor biological father (Mark Ruffalo) and the craziness that happens as a result of him entering their lives. It is a bold topic, and it is handled with respect and maturity. This is an adult movie about adult themes. This is really a film about family- and families can be messy, confusing, frustrating, and more. This film shows all that, but it also displays the heartwarming comfort and unconditional love that comes with family as well.

As I mentioned, the film is really about the performances. Annette Bening is getting most of the buzz for her role, and it is very deserving. She's quite good, and perfectly conveys a wide range of emotions in the film. It looks like the big Academy Award showdown will be Annette Bening (still looking for her first Oscar, after all these years) verses Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan. Now, the Academy often screws up awards, so I'm making no promises- but I will say this- Bening has no claim to win Best Actress this year. She is very good in this film, but Portman is stunning, frightening, mesmerizing, and unforgettable in Black Swan. If Portman loses to Bening, it will be another huge mistake the Academy has made.

The rest of the cast is very good as well. I loved Julianne Moore here. She's such a terrific actress, and while she oftentimes chooses awful projects, in the right role, there's almost no one better. She worked very well with Bening. Mark Ruffalo got a lot of early buzz for his performance, but that has quieted down in recent months. I thought his performance was a bit uneven, but as a whole, is very solid. I still remember the first time I saw Ruffalo in a movie- I hated him. Over the last several years though, he's emerged as solid actor, and I look forward to his movies now. This film furthered that reputation. Mia Wasikowska has had a heck of a year, with solid performances here and in  the horribly overrated Alice in Wonderland. Josh Hutcherson was surprisingly good as well- I thought his acting was atrocious in Journey to the Center of the Earth, but he worked well here.

I really, really enjoyed the performances in this film. Every member of the cast worked well. I thought the story was unique and interesting. And yet, I didn't love the movie. I thought the conclusion was strangely unsatisfying. It felt like the movie slowly built up the emotions before coming to a too-quick conclusion that felt hastily thrown together. I wanted more. I thought the direction was a bit uneven, which kept me at a distance the entire film, rather than pushing me into these characters' lives.

Still, The Kids Are All Right is worth seeing because of the memorable performances of the cast. I really enjoyed this film, but I would not consider it one of the Top 10 movies of 2010. I would give this film a 7.5/10.

Has anyone seen both The Kids Are All Right and Black Swan? Who deserves the Academy Award, Annette Bening or Natalie Portman? (don't let my opinion sway you)