20TH CENTURY WOMEN (2016)

2/10/2017 - 20th Century Women (2016) – 7+/10

A tremendous examination of the masculine & feminine, set in relief to the cultural touchstones of the late 70's. Stylistically wise, both in cinematic disquisition and visual dynamism. Overall, magical film storytelling beyond being technically accomplished.

This was an acting story extravaganza. Zumann (the focal boy part) was solid, but by far the weakest, paling in comparison to the tremendous work being put in by Benning, Fanning, Gerwig, and Crudup. Each of them was clicking on all cylinders.

Precociousness, conspicuousness and artsyness were dripping of the slightly unauthentic dialogue, but it captured the quirk and singularity of the director/writers vision and these special characters. Similar to a Sorkin project, the charatcters/events/dialogue weren’t quite spurious, but it was a definite heightened reality.

The specific framing device that drives a chunk of the film faltered as it went on, but it still felt genuine and enjoyable. The whole film is wonderfully whimsical, humanly germane, and cinematically adroit. I liked this film quite a bit.