Junebug (B+ or 3/4 stars)
George Johnsten (Alessandro Nivola) & his British wife, Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz), travel to rural North Carolina to meet with a painter whose art they'd like to feature in their Chicago gallery. Coincidentally, said artist lives quite near George's family; he could then introduce his new bride to them. The plot revolves around Madeleine, and how George's simple, bible-worshipping family accepts or rejects her. 'Junebug', a quirky dramedy directed by Phil Morrison, works because it shows the authenticity of a confident man who brings his girl home to 'meet the parents', but is scared and embarrassed by their small-mindedness.
George & Madeleine are wildly in love. They are confident city folk, and confident newlyweds. But upon arrival, George slides into a quiet, ignorable behavior that Madeleine is unaccustomed to. Madeleine embraces his family with open arms, an open mind, and an open heart; but she's not well received by all. George's finicky mother (Celia Weston) feels an immediate sense of inferiority to this 'British' daughter-in-law and looks for any way possible to cut her down. His docile father seems to like Madeleine, but he wouldn't dare oppose his wife's view. George's younger brother, Johnny (Benjamin McKenzie) is cranky, out of cigarettes, and muted. But it is Johnny's pregnant wife, Ashley (Amy Adams), who is the only one to fully embrace Madeleine with reciprocal admiration.
Ashley is in awe of her put-together sister-in-law. Where Madeleine would ask if she's read any good books lately, Ashley would reply, 'No, but let's go paint our nails and go to the mall!' There's a truthful, youthful, shameless exuberance displayed by Ashley (and it's much needed around the glum, repressed Southern household). Instead of running for the hills (like I would), Madeleine stays the course and rides out each storm that comes her way; whether it's by unwelcoming encounters with George's mom, the younger-brother-who's jealous-of-big-brother, or various other townsfolk. Madeleine's presence rocks the complacent, down-home family dynamics & kick-starts anxieties that bubble beneath your typical Southerner's polite surface.
I've been to the South many times, and even lived there for a year. In this film, the display of petty, diluted, envious attitudes (hidden by layers of sugar-coated, artificial niceness) is right on target with 'some' people who dwell there. I understand why George was probably horrified (deep inside) that he'd have to eventually show off his prized-possession to a truly embarrassing family. George had probably left town long ago to escape the suffocation of a hometown that loved him very much, and was happy to see his long awaited return. It's his 'supposed' snooty wife that they'd turn their nose up to (although she's nothing like that, at all).
This movie is quiet and will be perceived as boring to those who doesn't go into it as a look into the cultural phenomena of the Southern, misguided, bible-belt way of life. Not much is said during film, but any dialogue is meaningful, nuance-laden, and spoken to savor, contemplate, & shake your head at. 'Junebug' is full of small, intimate, genius moments that show how & why humans witness, act and speak on misconceptions. And Amy Adams' break-out performance as Ashley is emotional, adorable, entrancing to watch, & much needed here; she's the light amid her dim-witted family.
George & Madeleine are wildly in love. They are confident city folk, and confident newlyweds. But upon arrival, George slides into a quiet, ignorable behavior that Madeleine is unaccustomed to. Madeleine embraces his family with open arms, an open mind, and an open heart; but she's not well received by all. George's finicky mother (Celia Weston) feels an immediate sense of inferiority to this 'British' daughter-in-law and looks for any way possible to cut her down. His docile father seems to like Madeleine, but he wouldn't dare oppose his wife's view. George's younger brother, Johnny (Benjamin McKenzie) is cranky, out of cigarettes, and muted. But it is Johnny's pregnant wife, Ashley (Amy Adams), who is the only one to fully embrace Madeleine with reciprocal admiration.
Ashley is in awe of her put-together sister-in-law. Where Madeleine would ask if she's read any good books lately, Ashley would reply, 'No, but let's go paint our nails and go to the mall!' There's a truthful, youthful, shameless exuberance displayed by Ashley (and it's much needed around the glum, repressed Southern household). Instead of running for the hills (like I would), Madeleine stays the course and rides out each storm that comes her way; whether it's by unwelcoming encounters with George's mom, the younger-brother-who's jealous-of-big-brother, or various other townsfolk. Madeleine's presence rocks the complacent, down-home family dynamics & kick-starts anxieties that bubble beneath your typical Southerner's polite surface.
I've been to the South many times, and even lived there for a year. In this film, the display of petty, diluted, envious attitudes (hidden by layers of sugar-coated, artificial niceness) is right on target with 'some' people who dwell there. I understand why George was probably horrified (deep inside) that he'd have to eventually show off his prized-possession to a truly embarrassing family. George had probably left town long ago to escape the suffocation of a hometown that loved him very much, and was happy to see his long awaited return. It's his 'supposed' snooty wife that they'd turn their nose up to (although she's nothing like that, at all).
This movie is quiet and will be perceived as boring to those who doesn't go into it as a look into the cultural phenomena of the Southern, misguided, bible-belt way of life. Not much is said during film, but any dialogue is meaningful, nuance-laden, and spoken to savor, contemplate, & shake your head at. 'Junebug' is full of small, intimate, genius moments that show how & why humans witness, act and speak on misconceptions. And Amy Adams' break-out performance as Ashley is emotional, adorable, entrancing to watch, & much needed here; she's the light amid her dim-witted family.