Lovely & Amazing

A Review by Peggy Sugarman

Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener
Starring: Catherine Keener, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Mortimer and Jake Gyllenhaal
Run time: 91 minutes.
Rated: R (for language and nudity).

I first got the urge to see Lovely and Amazing when I watched a short preview that portrayed a middle-aged woman talking to one of her grown daughters before she went under the knife . . . and the vacuum. Having experienced liposuction surgery once myself (okay, maybe it was twice . . . and so what?), I was really intrigued and put it on my “must see” list. Since it was relatively unknown, it was shown only in independent theaters. Hence, I missed it on the big screen and had to catch it on video.

My husband didn’t show much interest in seeing this picture, so I settled down to watch it solo. After about 30 minutes, he wandered in and began to get interested, and before I knew it, he was watching with rapt attention. He even watched it again the next day to catch the beginning. So for those of you who think that this film is only for women, think again. Granted, it’s a definite chick flick. But it’s a chick flick that revels in the quirky, sometimes dysfunctional, insecure glory of a mother and her three daughters. Writer/Director Nicole Holofcener is to be commended for this bold and realistic presentation.

The matriarch of this family is Jane Marks, played by Brenda Blethyn; single, successful, worried about her middle-aged abdomen and, by implication, her sexuality. She imagines that the plastic surgeon is flirting with her. When she develops a dangerous infection from the surgery, you will find yourself wondering what the outcome will be.

In the meantime, her two grown and insecure daughters cope with their mother’s condition, which includes caring for Annie, their adopted, young African-American sister magnificently played by child-actress Raven Goodwin. Annie is difficult; she doesn’t mind, talks back and constantly overeats. The elder Marks sisters, Elizabeth and Michelle, are aghast at Annie’s eating habits and are blithely clueless about her needs. At the swimming pool, they call the white children out of the water while they reapply some sunscreen. “Why don’t I get sunscreen?” asks Annie. “Because your skin is already dark, honey. You don’t need it.”

Michelle Marks, played by Catherine Keener, is a 30-something wannabe artist who spends her time trying unsuccessfully to sell her “art.” In the meantime, her husband is tired of supporting her and demands that she get a real job. His passive aggression is evident as he “accidentally” steps on her work. She finally succeeds in getting a job at a photo processing shop and befriends the owner’s son who supervises her. Played by Jake Gyllenhaal, this 17-year old lonely misfit becomes attracted to her. Because Michelle is ignored and ridiculed by her husband, she responds to the (jail) bait. The scenes involving these two are both touching and hilarious. When she meets his mother, it gets even funnier.

Elizabeth Marks, played by Emily Mortimer, is the younger sister. An insecure actress, she constantly worries about her body. It doesn’t help that her agent is condescending (“You have no idea how hard I had to work to even get you this much”) and her boyfriend indifferent. She therefore ends up in bed with a fellow actor who can sympathize with her body image problems. In what is probably the most memorable scene of the movie, she demands that he critique her naked body while she stands at a distance. And he does. From top (“The right one is a little smaller than the left. Nice nipples, though.”) to bottom (“In a perfect world, it would be rounder.”)

Totally un-Hollywood, this low-budget gem was filmed in only three weeks. You will probably enjoy its unique portrayal of women trying to cope with their problems, made worse by long-standing insecurities, and their ability to come back together as a family. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Peggy Sugarman has spent 25 years working in California's workers' compensation system, having served 8 years as the Chief Deputy Director of the state's regulatory agency. She holds a Master's degree in Counseling and is currently consulting for the California Applicants' Attorneys Association -- an organization of attorneys who represent workers and fights for legislation to help workers who are injured on the job. She occasionally writes for on-line publications and is working on her first novel. She and her husband and two daughters reside in Oakland, California.

You can email Peggy with movies you’d like to see reviewed at Psugarman@earthlink.net