Thursday, October 8, 2015

Maggie's Plan (2015) New York Film Festival 2015

Rebecca Miller's romantic comedy is one of the big head scratchers of the New York film Festival. The question is not directed at the quality of the film, it's enjoyable, more it's a question of why is something so light at NYFF to begin with?

The plot of the film has Maggie (Greta Gerwig) charting out her future. Deciding she wants a child she has lined up a pickle maker to be the sperm donor of her dreams. However things get complicated when she meets a writer (Ethan Hawke) who is married to a seemingly over bearing professor (a hysterical Julianne Moore). How their lives, and those of their friends and children, interact  is the film. (I'm cutting it short because it's too complicated to spell out simply).

A small scale charmer where Greta Gerwig does a bit more with a role - she actually is capable all the way through the film- MAGGIE'S PLAN is the sort of film that is going to warm a lot of people's hearts. Its a funny, intelligent film where amazingly you really like every single character, even Julianne Moore.

Julianne Moore's turn as Ethan Hawke's ex-wife is one of those performances that is going to get stuck in people's heads. Playing against expectations its a role with unexpected depth and warmth and the sort of thing that may very well get her into talks for Oscar gold. Personally I love her accent which reminds of a more refined version of John Cameron Mitchell's performance of his character HEDWIG.

As much as I liked the film I'm puzzled as to why it ended up at NYFF. Its a sure fire romcom hit, but at the same time it's much lighter pretty much every film at the festival for the last few years. I guess the programmers had an odd moment and scheduled it. (probably just trying to mess with the critics heads)

The film is getting an encore screening at the New York Film Festival Sunday and tickets can be had here.

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