Enough Said
Release Date: September 18th, 2013
Writer: Nicole Holofcener
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Logline: A divorced woman who decides to pursue the man she's interested in learns he's her new friend's ex-husband. (Source: IMDb) Comedy/Drama, 93min
Bechdel Test: Passed all three tests.
Portrayal of Women: Women in this film are complicated and genuine. They are at different points in their lives, with different careers, aspirations, and relationships. They are not marginalized, they are front and center.
Sisterhood moment: "What the hell is chervil?" ... "It's a herb." "A what?" "An herb. How long have you known me?" "I can't understand a god damn thing you ever say." That's how you tell your best friends.
Rating: 4/5
Review
This is one of the most brilliant movie scripts I've ever read.
The charming and sweet Julia Louis-Dreyfus portrays Eva, a divorced mom who begins testing the waters with a new boyfriend Albert, portrayed by James Gandolfini. Their relationship is complicated through Eva's new friendship with Marianne (Catherine Keener) who happens to also be Albert's ex-wife.
The beauty of this movie lies in its subtlety. The subtle wit, the subtle attraction, the subtle influence, the subtle poisoning. It's a movie that explores relationships that are both succeeding and failing. Eva is a flawed character, who isn't aware of her flaws. She hurts people and doesn't understand that she's doing it.
As an early predictor, Eva asks for the number of Albert's ex-wife while on their first date, unaware that she's about to get it. Eva becomes enraptured with the flow of information coming from Marianne about Albert, despite knowing that it's toxic to hear. With a sense of fabricated ignorance, Eva justifies the dual relationships even if it pushes away Albert, the one she genuinely cares about.
While this is going on, her daughter Ellen is about to leave for college. Eva unintentionally hinders this relationship by befriending Ellen's best friend Chloe. Once again, Eva isn't aware that she is pushing away her own daughter, but in an unconscious way she is. She's protecting herself from mourning the loss of her daughters presence at home. The same thing she's doing with Albert.
The sprinkling of comedy is enough to keep the audience interested, but left me wanting more. I always find Julia Louis-Dreyfus to be hysterical, and I wanted more opportunities for that in this film. Her idolization of Marianne was brilliantly portrayed, and her interaction with Albert was just the right amount of awkward. Not to mention James Gandolfini, who will make you laugh and break your heart in his own right.
This is a quiet, thoughtful film. Brilliant for anyone yearning for the kind of romantic comedy that doesn't include a wild dumpster chase. (Sorry JLo.)
While this is going on, her daughter Ellen is about to leave for college. Eva unintentionally hinders this relationship by befriending Ellen's best friend Chloe. Once again, Eva isn't aware that she is pushing away her own daughter, but in an unconscious way she is. She's protecting herself from mourning the loss of her daughters presence at home. The same thing she's doing with Albert.The sprinkling of comedy is enough to keep the audience interested, but left me wanting more. I always find Julia Louis-Dreyfus to be hysterical, and I wanted more opportunities for that in this film. Her idolization of Marianne was brilliantly portrayed, and her interaction with Albert was just the right amount of awkward. Not to mention James Gandolfini, who will make you laugh and break your heart in his own right.
This is a quiet, thoughtful film. Brilliant for anyone yearning for the kind of romantic comedy that doesn't include a wild dumpster chase. (Sorry JLo.)
Portrayal of Women: Women in this film are complicated and genuine. They are at different points in their lives, with different careers, aspirations, and relationships. They are not marginalized, they are front and center.
Sisterhood moment: "What the hell is chervil?" ... "It's a herb." "A what?" "An herb. How long have you known me?" "I can't understand a god damn thing you ever say." That's how you tell your best friends.
Rating: 4/5
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