Sister Act: Review of Mistress America

Mistress America

Director: Noah Baumbach

By Alex Watson

Once again director Noah Baumbach has created an original and sharp piece of work that is a return to the great screwball comedies of old. Focusing mainly on two women who are the opposite of one another, a pair of fine lead performances set the scene for a believable yet zany ride. Baumbach has recently been on a fine run of form with his comedies While We're Young and Francis Ha, his new picture Mistress America continues this great run. 

While studying in New York, freshman student Tracy (Lola Kirke) meets with her soon-to-be step sister Brooke (Greta Gerwig). Soon the pair become inseparable and Tracy seems to feed off Brooke endless positive energy. When her plans to open a popular restaurant, Brooke has to borrow money elsewhere. This will lead to a road trip to Greenwich, Connecticut where all things will come crashing together. 

Mistress America's primary function is the study of the relationship between Brooke and Tracy. Living in the Big Apple, Tracy is quickly drowning and latches on to the first guy she meets. She has intent to join a literary society but her writing doesn't seem to make the grade. When Brooke arrives in her life it at first opens up a whole new world for her. Brooke seems to thrive on life itself and she is a woman with endless delusions of making her mark on this world.  The movie's first half centers on the conversations they have. Unveiling a unique wit that is hard to beat, this meeting of opposites is one that becomes memorable quickly.

Slowly Brooke becomes the focal point of Tracy's new short story she is writing and Brooke tries to go ahead with a restaurant-community centre. While Brooke tears through scenes with a boundless energy, there is also a highly self-absorbed feel about the two leads. One scene Brooke finds herself confronted by an old high school nemesis for mistreating her, to which she merely shrugs it off as nothing. Baumbach also smartly asks just what exactly the pair is looking to get of one another? While Tracy has become almost dependent on her future sisters company she also seems to view Brooke more as a material than a true friend. 

The third act of Mistress America plays out almost like a live action stage play as our leads travel to Greenwich, Connecticut. Here Brooke is intent on borrowing money from her old nemesis and her former ex boyfriend. Events in this section are staged perfectly and Baumbach has any number of elements to keep things interesting. A pregnant friend who is always waiting to picked up and a suspicious neighbour are among the quirky characters on display. Wisely although there are confrontations galore, Baumbach wisely keeps a lid on things and it never once descends into a shouting contest. In the midst of the bottled up emotions there are winds of change hanging on air and after this visit, friendships will become changed. 

Baumbach's creative and romantic partner, Greta Gerwig shows just why this guy should cast her in everything. Showing a great comedic touch along with a highly vulnerable feel, Gerwig is very much the movies ace in the deck. Registering almost immediately, she is a tour de force throughout playing both hipster and wannabe business mogul.  Gerwig has the kind of moxie that Academy voters often love. Lola Kirke in a more silent turn is fine in her own right and provides the movie with a more passive feel. Underneath her almost shy and retiring appearance beats the heart of a real creative thinker. Kirke is very much the voice of reason of the two leads. 

Mistress America is a movie that hopefully will a least one name with a nomination this awards season. Ignited by the fine lead turns of Gerwig and Kirke, Baumbach is fast becoming the new indie film king of his generation.

The Young & The Restless: Review of While We're Young

TIFF EXCLUSIVE

While We're Young

Director: Noah Baumbach

By Alex Watson

American director, Noah Baumbach is a different breed of film maker. In his movies such as The Squid and the Whale, Greenberg and more recently, Francis Ha, he has proven himself to be a film maker who never gives us characters we completely sympathize with but we are always drawn closer to. At the Toronto International Film Festival, he has brought us his new effort While We're Young which establishes the struggles an older married couple in the face of something new and exciting.

Josh (Ben Stiller) and Cornelia (Naomi Watts) are a forty-something married yet childless couple living in New York. Their lives are soon altered though by the emergence of young and hip duo Jamie (Adam Driver) and his wife Darby (Amanda Seyfried) whose world they becoming increasingly drawn towards. But along the way, the couple begin to lose sight of who they really are and seem to strive to become new people. But amidst their awe and fascination, cracks begin to appear.

While We're Young is another funny and ultimately real offering from Noah Baumback and it efficiently tackles the issue of growing old. The movie begins with a cleverly placed series of lines from Ibsen's 'The Master Builder' where the character Solness expresses concern to his wife about letting a young couple through the front door. This foreshadows the story that follows it and Baumbach succeeds in giving the movie the off-the-wall but depressingly crushing feel of real life and relationships.

In typical fashion, the characters are not easy to warm to as Josh is a once promising documentarian who has wasted over 10 years making his think piece on America and its wars. Cornelia has suffered several miscarriages and is having trouble adapting to her friends all having babies when she feels her opportunity has now disappeared. Josh is a man who takes himself far too seriously, but yet he has a compelling desire to piece his bright future back together. Things are not helped by his strained relationship with acclaimed film maker father in law Leslie (Charles Grodin) whose style he has forever wanted to emulate but has become lost along the way.

The moment that Jamie and Darby enter their world, a bombshell hits as they are loving couple that likes all things retro such as VHS players, typewriters and quirky adventures on old subway lines. In spite of the fact that Josh and Cornelia are dazzled at how full of life they are, they cannot escape the fact that they are acting above their own years. In one scene, Josh attempts at riding a bicycle in a cool fashion, only for his back to give out and him later being informed he has arthritis! Although they begin to live again, the elder couple soon begins to question the world they live in and whether it is something they truly believe in.

Unfortunately although this is a raw and hilarious ride, things begin to go wayward in the movies second half and are not helped by some painful misguided comical moments such as bizarre religious ceremony where people barf out their demons into a bucket. Also Josh's increasing jealousy of Jamie's success making his new film and his desire to prove he is a fraud alienates him from the audience later on. But let's not forget everyone, Baumbach is never one to go easy on his characters in the movie's he makes.

Ben Stiller in his second effort alongside Baumbach does well as Josh. His usual sarcastic wit is very much present and it does prosper the characterization and gives a decent protrayal of a man who is chronically disappointed with wasting his gift. As Cornelia Naomi Watts is solid as usual as a woman almost drowning in her own childless world when all around her seems to be popping out kids! She also thrives on the movies more funny elements which showcase that this girl can be comedic when she needs to be.

Adam Driver firmly stamps his talent as one of Hollywood's new wave, fans of TV show Girls will be familiar with his ability to play hip yet mysterious characters and Jamie has been written just perfectly for him. His upcoming appearance in JJ Abrams' Star Wars movie will be one to look out for.

While We're Young is yet more proof that a Noah Baumbach film is a very different type of experience and will leaving coming out with a ticking brain and a belly full of laughs. In the long run this maybe won't be once of his more memorable efforts, but it will certainly rank as one that is more original.

Closer to the Edge's Official TIFF Schedule

A Happy Ontario Based Morning all,

I currently sit here typing glazed in a heap of sweat after finally securing tickets for the upcoming Toronto Film Festival! For those veterans who go through this process on a yearly basis, you have my up most sympathies!

For TIFF 14 I will be volunteering at the Scotiabank Theatre, which I am very excited about! Especially as it gives me a chance to interact with film lovers from all corners of the globe. So without further delay, here are the films I shall be reviewing for the next two weeks:

A Second Chance (Susanne Bier)
While We're Young (Noah Baumbach)
Mr Turner (Mike Leigh)

I express regret that I was unable to secure more lucrative first screenings such as Foxcatcher, Wild, Maps to the Stars or Nightcrawler- but once the TIFF madness starts then it is every man for himself! However, as I am working during the festival, I may be able to get tickets on a Rush basis for things so my schedule could so easily change! But fear not, the major releases will still find a way onto my blog at some stage in 2014/2015!

Here's to a great festival everyone and just remember, if we cross paths- you just keep right on walking ha ha!